Just A Kiss (Part 3) by By: Morgan:) (great novels to read .txt) 📖

watery but I wouldn’t let a tear fall. Not today.
“Deceased.” James said and that explained it all.
“I’m so sorry. How, may I ask?” She said trying to be snoopy.
“Her Father.” James said. He was strong for so long. It had to come out sooner of later.
“Killed her.” I finished his sentence. James hugged me. I rubbed his back.
“Oh my!” She gasped. “Wait, you’re Miley Smith?” She asked. I nodded. “I’m so sorry.”
“Please, no pity.” I begged. James lifted his head.
“Dust.” He said and whipped his eyes. I chuckled.
“We’ll take it.” James said while snuffling his nose.
“Really?” She asked. I nodded. “Great! Let me get the paper work.”
I turned to James and whipped the rest of his tears. He looked at me with his big sad eyes they were now red. I put my hand on his chin which happened not to be shaved today and pulled him close for a kiss.
“I love you.” I whispered to him.
“I love you too.” He whispered back. When she came back and smiled at us.
“Here.” She said and handed him Paperwork. It didn’t take too long to fill it out. She handed him the key and took down the For Sale sign. I smiled as we watched her drive away. We got into his car and went back to the house. I ran and tried to find Michelle. I looked everywhere. I found her sitting on a bench in the park.
“Michelle! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” I shouted from the street.
“I’ve been here.” She said motionless.
“Are you okay?” I asked. She nodded as she looked at the young children playing.
“Its indescribable how short life can be.” She said. I nodded. “So young, so beautiful. She didn’t even see it coming.”
“Who are you talking about?” I asked her.
“Isabelle.” She sighed. “I didn’t even get to know her. I was so stupid to leave!”
“No, Michelle. You had to do what you had to do. You helped me through everything! Everything! It was about time you started living your dream.” I tried to convince her but she kept shaking her head.
“I should have been there. You were all alone.” She cried.
“No, I should have been there.” I said.
“What do you mean?” She asked.
“My Mother raised her. I didn’t. I didn’t hear her first words or see her first steps. She did. I’m a laugh of a Mother. I didn’t do anything than push her out and name her.” I cried. “Just recently I’ve lived with her.
“But that was for her good. You were doing what was right.” She hugged me.
“But what good is it know?” I asked. “Isabelle is no longer. Nothing but a memory.”
“She’s more than a memory.” Michelle said. I hugged her.
“I know.” I cried. After I stopped crying I finally told her what I came here to tell her. “I came to tell you James and I bought a house.”
“How did he get the money for that?” She asked.
“He’s been working some nights and he’s had a lot of money saved up.” I said.
“That’s great.” She smiled. She acted like something was wrong.
“What’s wrong?” I asked worried.
“Nothing. Nothing is wrong.” She lied. I looked at her with my serious look. “Okay, its just you seem like you have everything figured out. Even in a crisis thats as terrible as this. Then there’s me so isn’t ever around her best friend and is going to have to go back to my Art Exhibit. I can’t stay here forever but I don’t want to leave you.” She said. It was almost as if she was arguing with herself.
“Then bring your art to us.” I said. It was a crazy idea but I was always told, what you don’t go to will come to you. “We can arrange it.”
“Really?” SHe asked excitedly.
“Really.” I promised.
“Lets do this!” She shouted. I laughed at her enthusiasm. James waved to me from the street.
“Where did you go?” He asked me.
“I came here to find Michelle.” I said honestly.
“You had me so worried.” He hugged me.
“I’m sorry Babe.” I apologized. "Do you want to come with us and help us move?" James asked Michelle.
"Yeah." She said and headed to the car with us. When we got to our Mom's house we started packing the car up. We got almost about everything beside clothes because we weren't moving into the new house just yet.
When we got to the new house Michelle was in aw. I could tell she loved this place just as much as we do. She quickly ran inside and looked at every room. She ran back out to us.
"Its freaking awesome in there!" She shouted. We both nodded. We loved Michelle. She was so immature but mature at the same time. The sad part is she's changed so much since we've last seen each other. I'm going to be so devastated when she has to leave. I don't want it to happen but I know it will. Her life isn't here anymore. Its there.
After a while of getting things in there correct order we sat down and relaxed. We had some coffee and sat on the Island in the middle of the Kitchen.
"I'm going to miss you." I said to Michelle who was across from me. She nodded. James came and sat next to me.
"We both will." He said. "It's been great getting to know you."
"Thanks James." She smiled.
"When are you going to leave?" I asked her.
"I don't know. It has to be soon because they can't run my exhibit forever. At least not the way I want them to run it." She laughed. I hung my head sadly. James could tell. He wrapped his arm around me. When he does that I always feel more safe.
"Well, Michelle. Why don't you just live here with us?" He asked. I lifted my head quickly.
"Really?!?" I asked excitedly.
"Really." He smiled.
"Will you? Can you?" I asked her.
"What will I do about the Exhibit?" She asked.
"I know some buddies who can get all of it up here." James smiled. Michelle ran around the table and hugged him.
"You've got a good one." She smiled. I hugged her.
“Yeah, I do.” I smiled at him.
It took almost a month to get everything out of my Mother’s house. There was a part of me that didn’t want to leave. I guess I don’t want to grow up. We gave the guest bedroom to Michelle. She loves it. Every five minutes she tells us how thankful she is. She’s so excited to get her exhibit up here so I can see it.
Today James and I go back to work. Its going to be a little tough. Out of everything I hate, I hate pity the most. I don’t need others to feel sorry for me because it wont make a difference.
“You look beautiful.” James kissed me. I fixed my suit and his tie and we walked to the doors of the Firm.. I looked up at the big sign. R. H. Hanagan, it read. I took a deep breath.
As we entered the firm everyone stared. Its as if everyone got quiet. We entered the elevator. Everyone was watching.
“Are you sure we’re ready?” I asked James unsurely. I didn’t want to have a mental break down or anything. People here respect me. They see me as a higher power and I don’t want that to change because they don’t think I’m stable enough.
“I don’t know anyone who is more stronger than you.” He said. I kissed him as we got to our floor. He held my hand as we stepped out of the elevator. He kissed my cheek and then let go of my hand. He went to his office on the other side of the building. I took another deep breath as I made my way to my secretary.
“Hello, Ms. Smith.” She began.
“Mrs. Mathews.” I corrected her.
“I apologize.” She said.
“Its quite alright.” I chuckled.
“You look great.” She smiled.
“Thanks Barbra.” I smiled.
“You’ve had so many meetings and phone calls. Derrick filled in for you.” She said. She knew I wouldn’t like that.
“Derrick?” I asked. “That pompous, chauvinistic pig!” She pointed to my office. I walked in and he had his feet on my desk. Papers were scattered everywhere. I swear there was coffee there a week old.
“Miley!” He said in surprise. He quickly sat up and fixed his tie.
“Derrick.” I said in disgust.
“I kept your seat warm.” He smiled. He was so nervous.
“Get your ‘things’ and get out of my office.” I warned him.
“Yes, ma’am.” He said and then filled up his arms and ran out. Derrick was a pompous jerk who will stab you in the back in a heart beat. He is junk on the ocean floor. A waste of skin.
I walked around to the other side of my desk and looked at the mess. This was going to take weeks to clean up. I didn’t even try. I picked up the trash can and pushed everything into it.
“Yuck.” I mumbled as the coffee touched me. A bunch of people showed up at my door. Barbra was with them.
“Barbra, what is this?” I asked her while walking to the other side of the desk.
“Surprise!” They all screamed. They brought in Balloons and cake. They set them on my table.
“What is this?” I asked again.
“A welcome back party.” Barbra smiled. I hugged her.
“Thank you.” I smiled. She nodded. We all had cake. James even came down from his office. He walked over to me and hugged me.
“Did you know about this?” I asked him. He nodded with his adorable grin. I shook my head at him.
“We’ve missed you so much!” Everyone said. I smiled at them. It was a little over whelming.

After the work James and I went to our house. I couldn’t help but smile every time I see it. When we got in we found Michelle laying on the couch talking on the phone. She gave us the ‘sh’ sign as we entered the room. James and I tip toed to the kitchen to make some coffee. After she hung up the phone she walked over to us.
“Guess what?” She asked. She didn’t even give us enough time to guess before she said, “They are shipping everything down in a week!”
“Thats great.” I smiled.
“Where is it going?” James asked. I was wondering the same question.
“I rented a little place in town.” She said giddy.
“Rented?” I asked. “Michelle, how are you going to pay for that?”
“Don’t worry Miley, I made great money. I still have a lot saved and I now it will take off.” I didn’t want her feelings to get crushed but I had to be honest.
“You know you wont get as much business as you did, right?” I tried to put suttle.
“Don’t worry, Miley. Everything will be fine.” She said and then went up to her room. I turned to James.
“I’m worried.” I said honestly.
“Don’t be. She’s a big girl.” James hugged me.
“But I don’t want her dreams to get crushed.” I said sadly.
“Don’t think about it. You feel tense.” He said while rubbing my shoulders. “How about a nice, long, hot bath?”
“Sounds good.” I smiled. He picked me up and carried me upstairs. James and I haven’t had