"John?" Who the hell was John? Kylie looked at her mom. And damn if her mom didn't look guilty.
"He's the client that I had lunch with the other day, remember? I told you about him."
Kylie did remember. He was the guy who was going to ruin all the chances of her mother and stepfather getting back together.
"As I've explained," Holiday continued, "Kylie hasn't actually been blacking out. I think I might have just made it sound a bit worse than I intended in my reports. And when someone read them, they interpreted things wrong."
Emotion fluttered around like trapped birds in Kylie's chest. Holiday glanced at her and Kylie got the feeling the camp leader was trying to communicate something to her. But damn, Kylie couldn't read minds. She couldn't even read emotions.
"Didn't Kylie have night terrors at home?" Holiday asked.
Kylie suddenly thought she understood what Holiday wanted. "Yes. They were just night terrors, Mom. I didn't pass out. You remember how out of it I get when I have one of those. I'm not sick. I don't need testing. Besides, you already had me tested, remember?"
"But I didn't think you were having them anymore."
"I've only had a couple. And I'm fine. Look at me, I'm fine." She held her arms out, mentally searching for a way to prove it. "I can touch my toes; I can touch my tongue to my nose." It was a little rhyme she and her mom said when someone asked if they were okay.
"But why would Mr. Edwards want to run tests on you?"
Holiday leaned forward in her chair. "Oh, don't listen to him. He's just overcautious." She smiled, doing her best to sound convincing. "But if you would like to schedule Kylie for some tests with your own doctor for your peace of mind, I'd completely understand. I mean, nothing against the doctors here, but I would hope you have a good relationship with your own physician."
"Do you think I should?" her mom asked Holiday with her worried maternal look.
"Actually, no, I don't. I think Kylie's fine. With only two occurrences of the night terrors, I think she's doing great."
"I am doing great," Kylie persisted. "I'm fine. I promise. Please, Mom. I don't want to go through those tests again."
Her mom ran her palm over Kylie's cheek. "Do you know how scared I was? Oh, Lordie." Her mom looked back at Holiday. "You should consider having a serious talk with Mr. Edwards. I swear, the way his message sounded, you would think Kylie was in serious trouble."
"I'm sorry that scared you." Kylie looked at John over her mom's shoulder.
The man stood up, moved forward, and rested his hand on her mom's shoulder. Kylie had the oddest desire to slap his hand away and tell him he didn't have the right to touch her mom.
"Hello, Kylie," John said.
Kylie took in his suave smile, brown eyes, and matching chocolate-colored hair that was styled to perfection. She so wished she could find something ugly about him, but nope. He wasn't ugly. He wasn't completely older-guy hot like Burnett, maybe because he was a tad older, but he had the whole distinguished-looking thing down pat.
"I wish our first meeting could have been under different circumstances," he continued, "but I've been hoping to meet you. Your mom has told me so much about you."
Funny, Kylie thought, her mom hadn't told her so much about him. Well, she'd told her about having lunch and that he'd said he might call her again, but she'd neglected to say he had called. Probably because she knew Kylie had mixed feelings about her dating. Ahh, but right now, they weren't so mixed.
Kylie didn't like him. However, because she didn't have a reason-except her gut feeling and maybe her wanting her mom and stepdad back together-she was going to have to suck it up. Be nice. What was it Miranda had said? "Fake it until you make it." Could she learn to like this guy?
"It's nice to meet you." Kylie plastered a warm expression on her face. But she worried he could tell it was a sham.
"The pleasure is all mine," he said.
Kylie just smiled. He was completely right about that.
* * *
For the next half hour, Kylie sat in the meeting room in the office and visited with her mom and smarmy John and pretended like everything in her life was just peachy. Peachy and Smarmy. Phrases that Nana, who'd passed away about three months ago, would have used.
Weird how Kylie seemed to be channeling her right now. She'd love it if Nana would pop in for a visit. You there, Nana? Kylie asked in her head while John rattled on about the years he'd lived in England.
Nana didn't answer. But Kylie got the oddest sensation she was close.
"I've always wanted to see England," her mom said, holding on to every word the man said.
"We can fix that," John added with enthusiasm. "I have a trip scheduled next month. Why don't you take some time off and come with me?"
"Really?" her mom said. And damn if Kylie wasn't thinking the same thing. Really? The man wanted her mom to go to England with him. She didn't even know him. And would he expect her mom to share a hotel room with him, too? No way!
"Mom's work schedule is pretty demanding. She won't be able to make it," Kylie declined for her mom, before she realized she shouldn't have a say in the matter.
Her mom's mouth dropped open at Kylie's declaration and she shot Kylie a that-was-rude scowl. "Well, my work is demanding, but I might be able to get a few days off." She cut her eyes back to Kylie, warning her not to speak up.
"Great," John said, as if he missed the silent tension.
"Great," Kylie repeated, her smile so stiff she didn't think her lips moved.
"Speaking of schedules." Her mom looked at her watch. "We should be heading home. It's almost a two-hour drive. And I do have to work tomorrow."
Her mom gave her a quick hug. And for her hug-impaired mom, it was pretty good. When Kylie pulled back, she mouthed the word sorry. And she was sorry. She didn't want to hurt her mom's feelings, even if she didn't like this guy.
The look her mother sent her was one of pure understanding. Which only made Kylie feel a little worse.
Leaning in again, her mom whispered, "Love you."
"Love you, too." Kylie went back in for another hug, and this time she held on a little tighter and for a second longer.