Love Lost And Found: A Holiday Romance Read online

  “No, you were far from a loser.”

  “All your friends hated me. So did your mom. I was a weird art nerd, not cool at all.”

  “You were an art nerd,” he agreed. “But my friends were shallow. It was high school. And my mom didn’t hate you.”

  “Really? She seemed to.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “Did she like Kayla?” Lara ventured out of a sudden curiosity. She wondered what Kayla looked like and how she was to be Kyle’s wife.

  Kyle sighed. “She did.”

  “Oh.”

  They suddenly lapsed into awkward silence. Lara began to stuff her face to take her mind off of the sudden tension.

  “But Kayla was just like my mom. You’re different. That’s why it doesn’t matter,” Kyla added.

  Kyle always seemed to know just what Lara was secretly feeling. Lara instantly felt better. “Just like your mom? Like how?”

  “She always has to have everything a certain way. She is very particular. And she has really expensive taste. I spent thousands on her. Spa days, haircuts, she even got a boob job.” Kyle rolled his eyes. “I asked her not to because I thought she was perfect the way she was, but she wouldn’t listen. She’s, uh, very insecure.”

  “Oh.” Lara felt awkward again. “So why exactly did you two break up?”

  Kyle looked uncomfortable.

  “Sorry. I shouldn’t be talking about this now. I’m ruining dinner,” Lara said hastily.

  “No, no, it’s OK. We can talk about it. I actually probably should talk about it. I haven’t really with anyone.”

  “Well, I’m here to listen.”

  “Things never were truly OK with Kayla. We met at a charity gala and she seemed so carefree. We had a fancy wedding, honeymooned in Hawaii. During all that, things were great. I guess all that was going on distracted us from actually getting to know each other. But then, well,” he faltered. “I guess I just misjudged who she was. When I got to know her, I was shocked at how vindictive she was. And I guess I just didn’t spend enough time with her. She wanted a baby, I didn’t. I was always busy with work and I let her do her own thing and I guess she got used to it.” He shrugged.

  “Did she have an affair?” Lara gasped.

  “I suspect she did. The signs were all there. She would stay out late, she would step out of the room to talk on her phone. I never got to see her phone or her Facebook. She acted very secretive all the time and didn’t want to have sex anymore. When I asked what was going on, she just got defensive and said she wanted a divorce. Then she got a new boyfriend almost immediately. I suspect they had been seeing each other while we were together.”

  Lara put a comforting hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “I know how that feels and you really didn’t deserve that. I can never see you being disloyal.”

  He looked uncomfortable. “Well, I neglected her. But now she is probably going to get a lot of money and she seems pretty content with her new boyfriend. He’s another lawyer so he can keep her in the lifestyle she’s used to. The saddest part, she doesn’t even seem to care.”

  “So the divorce isn’t finalized?”

  “Oh, it’s final. Now let’s talk about you. Were you – are you with anyone special?”

  Lara laughed bitterly. “Oh, no. There was a guy in art school. Other than that, nobody of note. I dated a lot of jerks.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Yeah. Actually a lot of them were lawyers.” She gave him a teasing look. “You guys are the worst! Liars and cheaters.”

  He looked sad. “Sad, but true. No offense taken.”

  “There was this one guy named Benjamin that I dated for a little while. He was really ugly but he was a lawyer and seemed to have his life together so I gave him a chance. For our first date, he took me to this fancy Chinese restaurant and ordered for me. Spent almost the entire date on his cell phone. But for some reason I agreed to go out with him again. The second date, he asked if I wanted to go up to his place. I said no and he told me that was OK but would I go out with him again? So I said sure, I guess just because I was lonely. Anyway, the third date comes around and he took me to a strip club after dinner to ‘set the mood.’”

  “No!” Kyle cried.

  “Yes,” Lara began laughing. The humiliating incident had stung at the time, but now she could see the humor in it. “That’s not the worst part. The worst part is, after we left, he was kissing me at my door and seemed really adamant that I let him in. I said I wasn’t sure about seeing him anymore. And he said, ‘Why? You have to. There’s a pool at my office about when I get with you and I’ll lose if I can’t prove that I hooked up with you.’ He wanted me to pose naked in a picture with him so he could at least win bet with his buddies. I wouldn’t and he got really mad at me and said that I owed him since he had taken me to dinner so many times.”

  Suddenly, Kyle’s eyes narrowed. “Was this guy named Benjamin Rushing, by any chance?”

  Lara gasped. “Yes! You know him?”

  “Yes. He’s from Young & Rushing. His dad’s firm. He’s a joke of a lawyer and a joke of a man. He was always setting bets with the other guys in the firm about getting laid.”

  “Oh my God!” Lara flushed. “He never said that I slept with him, did he?”

  “Well, not to me. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he told everyone in his office that. He’s a real scumbag.”

  “Yeah. And what a crazy coincidence. That we know the same people and live in the same city. I mean, what if we passed each other on the street at some point and didn’t even realize it?”

  “There have been times when I thought I saw you. I thought I was just imagining things. Maybe I really did?”

  “That would be so crazy.”

  “More like destiny.” Lara blushed when she realized how intently Kyle was gazing at her.

  Kyle sighed. “Lara, you’re so much better than guys like Benjamin. You deserve the very best.”

  “Well, if I am, I sure don’t seem to attract them.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m attracted to you. And I don’t feel that I’m a bad guy.”

  “No.” Lara’s eyes grew moist. “I was really angry with you. But you’re not a bad guy. I just really liked you in high school and thought we would go far.” It was embarrassing to admit this, but it also felt like a load off of Lara’s shoulders to be square with the man who had broken her heart.

  “I always liked you too. And I never forgot about over the years.” Kyle was suddenly very close. “You know that you were my first, right?” Kyle said, lovingly tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.

  Lara blushed. Kyle had been her first, too. She remembered that day by the lake when she and Kyle had decided to take that special step. “I didn’t think I was,” she admitted.

  “You were. I think that’s why I could never get over you. You were my first love and I never found love sweeter or better than yours. Not even with my wife.”

  “Then why did you dump me?” Lara was surprised that the wound had never closed. She was still so confused and hurt, especially now that she knew Kyle still loved her.

  “I was young and dumb. I just felt…I guess I felt that things were getting too serious. I didn’t know myself well enough to know how much I loved you and how much I wanted a future. I just wasn’t ready for the commitment that you wanted.”

  “I just always thought it was because I wasn’t good enough for you,” Lara admitted.

  “What? Why would you think? You were more than good enough!”

  “I just always felt that way. And then that day we were filling out our college applications, you told me that I would never thrive in a college environment. I just felt like you thought I was stupid and poor and….”

  “I meant that in the best way possible, honey. I meant that you’re creative. You would not do well in a typical college environment, let’s face it. But I knew you would excel at the Art Institute and I’m so glad that you went there. I thought that you had finally listen
ed to me. Oh my God.” He suddenly laughed incredulously and ran his hands through his hair. “That’s why you got so furious and said all those horrible things to me about how I was a pretentious douche and destined to be a frat boy with too much gel in my hair. I could never understand why you got so mad.”

  Lara gulped; she felt as if the floor had dropped out from under her feet. “Well – well yes. God, Kyle, I’m so sorry. I thought you were insulting me. I never felt good enough for you and I – I just got overly defensive. You were always smarter and richer and just better at everything. I was so jealous of you even though I was also in love with you.”

  “Oh, honey, I was never better than you. In any way. I loved you so much and I really didn’t mean anything mean by what I said. I thought I was looking out for you. I guess I shouldn’t have phrased things the way that I did.”

  “I guess I was just being over sensitive.” Lara couldn’t believe how stupid she felt.

  “And did you really say you were jealous of me?” Kyle laughed. “Why were you jealous?”

  “Oh, Kyle. Look at how your life was in high school. Beautiful house, you had both your mom and dad, and you drove a Charger. Every guy in school wanted to be you and every girl wanted to be with you. You even dated Michelle Fuentes before me. She was like the most popular girl in school.”

  “She had nothing on you.”

  “Oh, Kyle.” Lara laughed but she felt like crying. “It was stupid. But I really was jealous of you. And I never understood why you wanted me. I was so far beneath you, in every way.”

  “I wanted you because you were so far above me, Lara. Everything about you was special. You weren’t like the other girls in school. You were…amazing. You painted, you had the longest brown hair, you always had so much laughter and joy in your spirit even when you were preoccupied with something. And for all the tragedy in your life, you were still able to be happy and have something to live for. You were a symbol of strength to me. Actually, you still are.”

  “I wish I had known this earlier. Imagine if we had stayed together, where we might be right now. We could have avoided everything, your divorce, and all my horrible dates.” Lara gave a bitter laugh. “This is incredible! I’m such a fool!”

  “There’s a reason we split up. Clearly something wasn’t right. I felt that life was moving us apart and we needed to be apart for a while.”

  Lara nodded. “I didn’t see it then, but now I do. You were right. We weren’t ready at the time. I wasn’t, even though I thought that I was. Actually, I’m glad we split. We couldn’t be together then. I had a lot of hard feelings at the time, but I guess I was just immature and clingy.”

  “That’s OK. Now we’ve had a lot of life experience and we’re both better equipped for a true relationship. Now we know how to appreciate each other.”

  “Are you saying that you want to be together again?” Lara ventured.

  “I do. I want to at least try. When we get back to Seattle, we can see each other and see where it goes from there. Maybe I won’t be such a pretentious douche this time.” He laughed.

  “And maybe I won’t be so jealous of you.” Lara brushed away some tears that dripped down her cheek. “Do you want to do this? Do you really want to do this?”

  Kyle smiled. “Yes, I do. I’m ready. Are you?”

  “Yes.” She burst into tears, but the happy kind. She felt so overcome with emotion. The twists and turns of this conversation were more exhilarating than the scariest roller coaster. As Kyle wrapped his arms around her, she felt her heart swell with joy.

  His arms felt so right.

  Then she looked up at him, and his lips met hers. He was an even better kisser than she remembered. His nose felt just right against hers and his lips felt so tender and soft. He flicked her tongue delicately, sending fire through her veins.

  Lara was so relieved. Kyle had really been all that she had wanted, all this time. But now she had her own life and didn’t depend on him for her ego anymore. Now he could just compliment her life, rather than make it. Their break-up really had been for the best. She was surprised to realize that she had never truly been over their relationship – until now. And now, they were ready to try again.

  “What time is it?” he said suddenly.

  “Ugh, I don’t know,” Lara said, flustered to be broken out of her joy.

  Kyle checked his phone. “Look up!”

  “What?” Lara demanded.

  “Look up at the sky.” He looked up too.

  Just then, a blazing red shooting star arced over them. Lara gasped. “How did you know that would happen?” she cried. Kyle seemed to sometimes have a superior knowledge of the world, almost a supernatural gift.

  “It’s a meteor shower,” he said.

  “Oh, so you’re not just psychic.”

  “Oh, I am. I had a feeling that I could make tonight special for you.”

  Lara smiled and cuddled into his shoulder to watch the meteor shower. It was slow at first, but she felt like she had all the time in the world. The light pollution from Austin and San Antonio dimmed the brightness of the celestial view somewhat, but the stars were still clear and the meteors were brilliant as they arced over the lake. Each shooting star was a vivid stripe across the sky that made Lara gasp. Her heart pounded in suspense, waiting to glimpse a shooting star. They shouted in joy each time that they saw one.

  Kyle was all that had been missing from Lara’s life. Everything was now complete. Lara felt whole and warm and excited to be alive. Like she was seventeen again.

  Chapter 8: Aunty-Niece Time

  “So how was your date with Kyle?” Aunt Lynn the next morning when Lara came down. She was holding a coffee mug between her hands and Uncle Joey sat next to her. They both looked at Lara as if they were searching her for clues about how last night had gone.

  “It was…nice.” Lara felt warm as she thought about it. Imagine that, a meteor shower had occurred right on their date. It was as if God had put on a special show just for them to enjoy together.

  “Oh, good. He’s such a nice boy,” Aunt Lynn said.

  “Aunt Lynn, stop calling him a boy,” Lara laughed, as she prepared a cup of coffee. She made a mental note to get one of those espresso machines, like what Cassie had, for Christmas. “He’s a full-grown man.”

  “And a nice-looking one at that.”

  “Well! Too much girl talk. I gotta go fix the lawn mower,” Uncle Joey said, hopping up. He pecked Lara on the forehead before heading outside. Even though it was late November, the yard was still green, and in desperate need of a mow. Lara had noticed that when Kyle had dropped her off last night. But she had shrugged the thought off, reminding herself that none of that mattered in true love.

  “So. Did he take you somewhere nice?” Aunt Lynn leaned forward, hungry for details, as Lara sat beside her.

  “Actually, he took me to the lake.”

  “The lake? Lara! It was so cold last night.”

  “Don’t worry, I wore my parka. And he kept offering me his jacket. And he made me a whole picnic. It was really…romantic.” Lara felt all warm again.

  “A picnic?” Aunt Lynn looked impressed. “He really still likes you.”

  “Yeah. I think so.”

  “So…is this going to go anywhere?”

  “I don’t know. My flight leaves tomorrow. I have to figure all this out.”

  “Well it doesn’t stop here. He goes back next week too, right?”

  “Yeah, sometime later in the week.”

  “So you can continue in Seattle.”

  “Yeah.” Lara smiled happily. The idea of returning to Seattle and not being alone was wonderful.

  She couldn’t believe that she felt this way about Kyle after all that had happened and all the time that had passed. For eight years, she had been angry with him, and working hard to get over how badly he had made her feel. But last night he had opened her eyes to so much. Almost all of her strife from their first relationship had been because of her own ins
ecurities. She had misconstrued everything so horribly.

  “Well,” Aunt Lynn sighed. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

  “I know. I feel I neglected you guys last night,” Lara laughed.

  “Oh, I am glad you went out with Kyle. I really want to see the two of you make it work.”

  “We’ll see. But I want to spend time with you today. Maybe we could…” Lara glanced around the kitchen, searching for ideas. Most years they all stayed together in Dallas with the rest of the family, so they never had trouble finding things to do. This year there was more pressure to find things to do in the small town. “Hey, I have an idea. Let’s go get our nails done.” She beamed at Aunt Lynn.

  Aunt Lynn beamed back. “Well I haven’t done that in years.”

  “Neither have I. But we used all the time when I was in high school. Remember those talons I got for prom?”

  “Oh, yes, with the plastic ribbons that snagged on everything.” Aunt Lynn rolled her eyes. “Those were so silly.”

  “Let’s go. We can have some aunty-niece time.” That’s what they had always called their outings when Lara was younger.

  Lara hadn’t done anything like this with her aunt Lynn in years. The smell of the chemicals in the local nail salon brought back so many memories. As the Vietnamese nail techs ushered them into chairs and handed them plastic wheels of color options, Aunt Lynn and Lara shared a private giggle. It always amused them to hear the nail techs chatter about them in Vietnamese. They liked to debate later what the techs had been saying about them.

  Lara selected a pretty nude color. Aunt Lynn went for bright pink. A nail tech brought them white wine. As the techs began to file their nails, Aunt Lynn began to ask Lara for more details about her date with Kyle.

  “So what did you two talk about? Did you talk about high school at all?”

  “Well, yes. We actually cleared the air.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, finally.” Lara gave a relieved laugh. “It was weird. But wonderful.”

  “Well, dear, what happened?”

  “Well. He told me how he really did love me. He cared for me and he really didn’t mean any harm. But he also said he felt that life was moving us in different directions. It really was. Now I see that, but I didn’t then.”