Home Is Where the Heart Is by Abigail Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

ride away, then turned to follow her mom to the car.
    “I guess it’s just you and me,” Liz said
    “Yeah,” Kyra said with a small smile as she climbed into the car.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    The Yellow Rose Diner was open twenty-four hours a day, and it was the best thing about Sizzle. Stepping through the front door was like taking a trip back in time because the style hadn’t changed since the 1950s. It was the most nostalgic place Kyra had ever been. The checkered floors and red barstools at the counters screamed 50s style, along with the old jukebox that still worked and played all the old tunes. Kyra’s favorites were ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ and ‘Hound Dog’ by Elvis. She had listened to them every time she came to the diner with her parents. With a strong sense of nostalgia washing over her, she made her way to the jukebox, popped in a couple quarters, and selected ‘Don’t Be Cruel,’ returning to the table with a smile on her face.
    The waitress was setting their plates down as Kyra slid into the booth across from her mom. The place had the best burgers and fries Kyra had ever had. You couldn’t get a good burger in Houston to save your life. Maybe coming home wasn’t so bad.
    Thankful, just this once, that Dylan didn’t come with them, Kyra made up for all the missed years and ate the big hamburger in what had to be record time for her. The burgers were just as greasy and delicious as she recalled. She grabbed the last of her French fries, dabbed them in ketchup, and popped them into her mouth before pushing her plate away. She hadn’t realized she’d cleared her plate until she noticed her mother’s shocked expression. She hadn’t really eaten all that much since she arrived and her appetite had snuck up on her. Liz smiled, chuckling.
    As Liz and Kyra paid their tab, Kyra realized she hadn’t come prepared for a funeral. When she had packed, she had just assumed that her dad would be okay. She had nothing dressy to wear. “Mom, I… I don’t have a dress to wear to the funeral tomorrow.”
    “You can wear one of my dresses, honey. I’m sure I have something that will fit you.”
    Kyra nodded, thankful her and her mom were similar in size. She hated not being prepared. Once they arrived home, she followed her mother upstairs to the master bedroom, where they looked through tons of dresses. Liz found a gorgeous black Jennifer Lopez Ponte sheath dress that stopped just above the knee. It was so beautiful and elegant. Sexy, too.
    “This one is perfect, Kyra!” Liz beamed.
    “Oh! I love it!” Kyra said with a smile. She tried on the dress, knowing that it would fit her perfectly. The smooth fabric kissed her skin as she eased it up her slim body. She noticed the tags hadn’t been removed and wondered where her mother would have worn it.
    “It’s a lovely dress. It looks so beautiful on you, honey.” Liz said.
    “It’s a gorgeous dress. Where were you going to wear it around here?” Kyra asked.
    A tear slipped from her mother’s eye. “Your father and I started having date nights a couple of years ago when his workload began to grow. We needed a night that was just about the two of us. He would take me out for a night on the town. Dinner… and sometimes a movie, too.”
    “I didn’t know that,” Kyra said, her voice soft as she realized why her mom had selected this one for her. There would be no date night for this dress.
    “Your father was such a romantic,” Liz said, a sad smile on her face. “He even learned to dance so he could whirl me around the dance floor on our anniversary last year. I’ll miss that.”
    “I hope I am lucky enough to have a marriage like yours one day,” Kyra said.
    “Oh, honey. I’m sure you’ll find Mr. Right. Sometimes it just takes a little time for the right one to find you. Maybe he’s right under your nose and you don’t even realize it.”
     

CHAPTER SIX
     
    The next morning came all too fast, and Kyra knew it would be one of the worst