Free Always and Forever by Lindsay McKenna Page A

sharing between the two families, had been nonstop. The Taylors had recovered from Mike’s death, obviously happy that both Kyle and Gale were home for Christmas.
    It was as if a miracle had occurred in the past year. Kyle remembered how devastated Mike’s parents had been. Now, the Taylors were the way he’d always known them—jovial and sharing. His own parents reminded him of joyous puppies, covering him with kisses, hugs and tears of gladness upon arrival. The decorating of both Christmas trees had been bonding, healing.
    He sat on the couch facing the fire. Glancing up, he saw Gale studying him, a pensive look on her face. If nothing else, he was aware of how much he loved her. Did she love him? Or did she still see him as simply a friend? He patted the space next to him.
    â€œCome on, sit with me.” How would she interpret his gesture? Probably as one of friendship. The fear he felt at trying to communicate that he loved her, had always loved her, scared him. If he put his arm around her shoulders, what would she do? If he tried to kiss her, what would be her reaction? Kyle was scared to death that Gale would turn away from his advances. The thought was shattering and one he couldn’t overcome right now.
    She smiled and sat next to him, her hand touching his shoulder. The uncertainty in his eyes kept her on edge. The last few hours of sharing and laughter with both families had been incredibly healing. Incredibly wonderful. Whenever she caught Kyle looking at her, an ache of longing had swept through her like a tidal wave. Gale could barely hang on to the words, I Love you . Did he still see her only as a responsibility? Someone to be loyal to because of Mike, because of a promise to always take care of her?
    Her hand felt good on him, and Kyle tried to stop the need to return the gesture. Her eyes were filled with caring.
    â€œThere are so many good memories here,” she said quietly.
    He laid his head back and stared at the fire. “Yeah.”
    She wrapped her arms around her drawn-up legs, the full green skirt like a cloak. “You ate enough for three people,Anderson. It’s a wonder you don’t look like a stuffed turkey.”
    He grinned, wanting to reach across those few inches between them and put his arm around her. “Tart, aren’t we?”
    â€œNo more than usual. You just haven’t been around enough to see this side of me.”
    Kyle sobered, lost in the vision of her upturned face glowing with happiness. “We really haven’t spent much time together,” he agreed, feeling the need to remedy the situation, but not knowing quite how to proceed.
    â€œNo, we haven’t,” Gale said softly. Taking a deep breath, she whispered, “I just want you to know how much all those letters you wrote over the years helped me to keep my hope alive, to keep me laughing instead of crying. You shared so much of yourself with me, Kyle—all the silly, human things that were going on in your life while we both waited to hear about Mike.” Her fingers tightened on her legs. She wanted so badly to reach out and cover his hands. “Each letter was like life to me, Kyle. I lived to get them from you. Your words, how you saw life, helped me grapple with Mike possibly being gone.”
    â€œBut...all they were were things about my career and some stuff happening with my squadron. They weren’t intimate or—”
    â€œYou don’t understand, do you?” Gale gave him a gentle smile, realizing her words were having a powerful effect on him. “Your letters were honest, Kyle.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou were vulnerable with me. Do you know how rare that is between two people? We’re all so afraid of getting hurt, of getting wounded, that we protect ourselves. Your letters over the years bared your soul, how you thought, how you felt on such a wide range of topics that I got thepleasure of knowing the man behind that