Behind Her Smile Read Free Page A

fly home for every break,” he explained.
    “My brother and his family live a few hours away in St. Louis. He might rent a car and drive up there for the holiday,” Kelly explained, sounding like she was trying to be cheerful and upbeat about it.
    Luke looked at Madison again. “I’ll be home for Christmas for sure.”
    She nodded and smiled.
     

     
    After dinner, Luke surprised her by asking if she wanted to go for a walk. “Sure,” she replied.
    “Don’t be gone long,” Kelly said. “We’ve got dessert, and then you’ve got to finish packing.”
    Luke flashed a smile at his mother. “Don’t worry. It’ll all get done.”
    The long summer evening provided daylight for their walk. They strolled side-by-side, but not touching. “So are you ready for junior year?” he asked.
    “I guess.” She paused and then added, “I’ll miss seeing you at school.”
    “Nah,” he replied, giving her a playful shove. “The guys will be swarming around you. You won’t even notice I’m gone.”
    She felt a stab to her heart, but shoved him back with the best smile she could muster. “Yeah. Like they always swarm around me,” she added with a twinge of sarcasm.
    They walked on in silence for a few minutes, down the familiar streets they’d known their whole lives. “Hey, remember when your dad took the training wheels off your bike and helped you ride it on the sidewalk here?” he asked.
    She smiled and rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Remember the gash in my knee when I fell on that driveway,” she replied, pointing to the offending concrete.
    “But you got right back up. I was really proud of you.”
    “You were?” Her heart felt lighter.
    “Yeah.”
    “So do you know who you’ll be rooming with in the dorm?” she asked.
    “Some guy from Texas. He’s into music.”
    “Oh. Like worship?” she asked.
    “Like band. He’ll be playing the trumpet in the school band.”
    She looked up at him. This time it was her turn to shove. “So I guess you’ll be listening to a lot of practicing. Hope he doesn’t keep you up all night,” she added with a glint in her eye.
    Nodding and laughing, he replied, “Better get some earplugs, I guess.”
    As they rounded the corner and headed back, he asked casually, “So will you write me while I’m gone?”
    “Uh, sure. If you want.”
    “I want. Not just emails either. Send me some real letters.”
    She noticed the change in the tone of his voice. His playfulness was pushed aside by earnestness.
    “I will. Promise,” she replied. “And you’ll write back. Deal?”
    “Deal.” He lifted his hand, and they high-fived each other. Then for just a brief moment, he looked almost like he would kiss her. But he seemed to catch himself, and turning away, he just draped his arm over her shoulder, gave her a squeeze, and then let go.
     

     
    “Did Maddie seem quiet to you tonight, honey?” Michelle asked Steve, as they got ready for bed.
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe a little. Why?”
    “I think Luke’s leaving is harder on her than she expected.”
    Steve nodded. He sat on the side of the bed and pulled her down next to him. “Our little girl sure has grown up,” he replied, taking Michelle’s hand and lifting it to his lips for a gentle kiss.
    Affection swept over Michelle. It seemed like her love for Steve grew deeper every year.
    “She’ll be fine, honey. Once school starts, and she gets involved in things with her friends.”
    “Yeah,” Michelle replied, with a smile. “You realize she’ll probably start dating pretty soon, too, right? I mean we did say sixteen.”
    He nodded. “But group dating only. And I need to meet the boys first.”
    She sighed. “I’d really hoped she and Luke would one day…” Her voice drifted off, leaving the rest unsaid.
    Steve squeezed her hand. “Yeah. Remember what little love birds they seemed to be when she was in middle school?”
    Michelle laughed as she remembered them sharing the earpieces of his iPod as