Chapter 37

When asked what her idea of a fun reception party would be, Kim said surprise her. All her old counselors and friends from camp planned the reception at the camp. Activities included were baseball, soccer, kickball and all those other things they used to play. Before going off to one of the games, she walked up to the baseball field and found the exact spot she was sitting in on the first day. Adam came up right after her.

"Want me to hit you in the head with another ball?"

They both laughed.

"No, but you can kiss me." She smirked at him.

"Now that I would love to do." He picked her up in his arms and kissed her.

All she could do was sit there and smile at him.

"How does it feel to be Mrs. Ruzek?"

"It feels wonderful."

She lifted up her arm, showing him the friendship bracelet he had made for her all those years before. That made him smile.

"I'm really happy you tried out camp that summer. If you hadn't, we never would have met."

"I'm happy I did, too."

Hannah came running up the steps.

"Mommy! Daddy!" She found them and sat next to them.

They smiled down at her.

"Is this that camp you guys always talk about?"

"It is." Adam put an arm around her. "In fact, this very spot that we're sitting in, is the place I met your mommy."

"Don't hit her in the head with a ball this time."

The three of them laughed.

"Can I go here someday?"

"We would love that. We loved it here when we were kids and we know you're gonna love it too."

While Adam talked with Hannah, Kim walked back down to the picnic tables and found Nadia sitting all by herself.

"You okay?" She asked.

Nadia shrugged, not speaking a word.

"There's food in the mess hall if you're hungry."

"Can we talk?"

"What's up?"

"I like someone, but I'm sure if I should tell him or not."

"Who do you like?"

"Promise you won't tell?"

"I promise."

"Kevin."

"Ask him out on a date."

"Are you kidding me? NO. NO. NO."

"You'll never know if he likes you back until you try a date first."

"I'm only twenty three and he's like thirty."

"Age shouldn't be a big deal. Go on."

"NO."

Leslie had just walked out of the mess hall, standing on the cement steps as she was typing a text message on her phone.

"Get over here!" Kim hollered and Leslie came running over.

"You rang?"

"Nadia likes Kevin. Get him over here."

"You got it."

"I can't talk to him! I'm too nervous!"

"I felt the same way about Adam, but look where we are now. Go for it."

She came waking back over with Kevin.

"We'll leave you two alone." Leslie grabbed Kim's arm and dragged her away.

Kevin sat down across the table from Nadia.

"What's up?" He asked, taking his hat off.

"Nothing."

"Those two said you had something to tell me?"

"No..."

"What is it?"

"Can you at least promise not to tell?"

"I swear on my life."

"I...like you." Nadia went to get up because of how embarrassed she felt.

"Wait." Kevin stopped her.

"I'm sorry..."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for."

"But-"

"Would you want to go out sometime?"

"Yeah, I would." A smile stretched across her face.

"We have succeeded yet again." Leslie and Kim high fived.

"We should really start a matchmaking service."

They couldn't help but laugh at the thought.

That night, the twins refused to let go of them at the airport.

"We'll be back in a week, don't worry." Kim said, trying to comfort them by rubbing their backs.

"Mommy, you've heard stories about planes crashing. I don't want you and daddy getting hurt."

"We won't, baby girl. Everything will be okay. We'll make sure and call you guys as soon as we land, alright?"

Hannah turned away.

"Don't be like that. It's not like daddy and I want to leave."

"I can't fall asleep unless I'm snuggled with you, mommy. You know that."

"Mommy left you her favorite pillow for you and your brother to sleep with while we're gone. Does that work?"

"It's not the same."

Brayden came up from behind her and hugged her.

"Please don't go."

Adam picked him up. "Hey punk, if you and your sister behave while we're away, we'll bring you back presents. How's that sound?"

"Much better!" He grinned.

"I thought so."

They hugged and kissed the twins before they got on the plane. Christopher and Maureen picked them up.

"How about we go look at your mama's baby pictures? She can't stop me this time."

"Yeah!" The twins said at the same time.

"You do realize she's going to kick your behind for this, right Maureen?"

"Chris, she's on her way to Europe, she can't do a damn thing about it."

He laughed to himself as they drove home.

"Alright, what do you two want for dinner?"

Brayden said Chinese food, while Hannah said she wanted pizza.

"How about spaghetti instead?"

"I'm too tired to go out anyway." Brayden shrugged.

Hannah squinted her eyes at him. "You can't even drive, stupid!"

"At least my hair doesn't block the drain when I take a shower!"

"At least I can color in between the lines!"

"I actually listened to our pre-school teacher when she said it was nap time!"

Maureen was too busy laughing at them to stop them.

"Alright, that's enough you too. How about you watch a movie with grandpa while I make dinner?"

"Deal." They both said at the same time.

Christopher came out of the bedroom with a tote full of stuff. Brayden walked over to him.

"What's that, grandpa?"

"Pictures of your mama when she was little. Do you guys want to look at them?"

"Yeah yeah!" Hannah came over, blanket in hand and sat on Christopher's lap.

"This one right here is the day your mama came home from the hospital. See? That's grandma holding her."

"My hair looked awful in that picture!" Maureen yelled from the kitchen.

"Be quiet, grandma! We're looking at pictures." Hannah said.

"Who's that boy standing next to mama?" Brayden pointed to the picture.

"That's your daddy."

"How old were they in this?"

"They were both ten, that was from the day they met."

After a little while, Maureen brought dinner out to them. She then put on The Lion King for the kids.

"Grandma, can I tell you something?" Hannah asked.

"Sure sweetie. What is it?"

"Scar is a jerk."

The four of them got the biggest grins on their faces.

"What? It's true. What kind of person pushes their brother off a cliff?"

"Oh Hannah...you are such a mini version of your mother."