DMV

It was now Merritt's turn to stand there and patiently listen as the two men began getting into areas she didn't understand. She'd been around the Patriot missile system for years, and generally knew what it did, but the technical aspects went right over her head.

What she did understand, though, was that Kade Radliffe was an extremely intelligent young man. He was smart, engaging, and what really impressed her was his sense of humility. It wasn't false modesty. It was genuine humility, a trait she truly admired but rarely saw in military men. As she stood there listening, but mostly just watching, a newfound level of respect for this very handsome and charming younger man developed in her mind.

By the time the senior executive left, Merritt was genuinely impressed and told him so.

Again, what he said in response was unexpected and also hit her very hard.

"If I've made any kind of positive impression on you, then that makes me very happy."

Just as before, the sincerity in his voice was what she found so...moving.

"I'm...I'm just an administrative assistant, Kade. It's not like you need to impress me," she replied, feeling like she hadn't felt in a very long time.

He smiled warmly then quietly said, "And yet you're the only person here...or anywhere else...I even care about impressing."

Merritt had been struggling to retain her composure for the last few minutes, and this latest comment shook her to her core.

Kade saw her look around as though she were trying to find something.

"Is everything okay?" he asked.

"Oh. Yes. Um...everything is...fine. I was just wondering what time it was. You know, so we aren't out too late."

She saw Kade trying not to smile at her clumsy attempt to change the subject.

"I'm sure it would be okay for us to leave now. After all, you've had some face time with the big guy, right?" he gently teased.

"Right. Yes, that's right. I suppose it's okay to take off anytime after that," she replied as she tried to regain her composure.

"So...would you like to leave?" Kade asked just as the tipsy woman, who was now fully 'lit' waved at him.

Merritt saw him look, and when the other woman began heading their way, she told him that sounded like a wonderful idea.

Kade deftly led her through the crowd of people back to their table where she grabbed her purse and the cardigan sweater she'd brought along and then out of the building.

The last thing they heard was the lush calling out, "Yoo-hoo! Oh, pool boy!"

Merritt's eyes opened wide, and when she saw Kade smiling, she let go and laughed.

"She's...interesting," Merritt said when she stopped laughing.

"I'm sure that's what her husband thinks, too," he joked back.

"That poor man!"

Kade told her he agreed as he opened the car door for Merritt and helped her get in.

When he came back around and got in, she reached over and put her hand on his right forearm.

"Kade? Thank you."

"For?"

"For...everything," she quietly replied.

"It was my pleasure, Merritt," he let her know just as quietly.

After a few moments of silence, she pulled her hand back.

"Is everything okay?" Kade asked again.

"I...I don't know," she began.

"Oh?"

"No, I really don't know."

"Is something bothering you?" he asked, trying to sound helpful rather than nosey.

"You see, that's the problem," Merritt told him.

"Could you be just a tiny bit more specific?"

"Sorry. I know I'm not making any sense, but I feel so...out of sorts."

"You certainly don't owe me an explanation, but I'm a pretty decent listener if you'd like to talk."

Merritt looked down at her lap then looked out the front window of the car.

"You'll think I've lost my mind," she said without looking at him.

"I promise I won't," Kade quietly replied as he looked over at her.

Several more moments passed in silence before Merritt sighed.

"I thought I understood what was going on. With us."

She turned toward Kade then said, "Until tonight."

Knowing there was more to come, he only raised his eyebrows indicating he was listening.

"When you stopped by work. My work."

Merritt felt silly for adding that. What other 'work' was there?

"How so?"

"I...I was so sure. No, I was...certain...that you stopped by just to make sure I didn't have to come here alone tonight."

"Ah, okay," he said without a smile or any other facial expression.

It took Merritt a few more seconds before she was able to ask, "Was that the reason why?"

As the last words of her question were spoken, she turned to look at him again, almost afraid to do so.

"No," he said even more quietly.

"Then I...I really, truly don't understand," Merritt said just above a whisper.

Kade was already sitting up straight, but he tried to sit up even straighter.

"Since my wife died, no woman has even caught my attention."

He paused for effect then said, "Not one."

"Until I met this amazing, beautiful woman at the DMV."

Merritt's heart began pounding as her greatest 'fears' were realized.

"I...I don't understand," she told Kade, as she looked away.

Her hands were in her lap, and Kade reached over and put his hand on hers. When he went to take the one on top, she didn't resist. He took it, held it in his, then tried to explain.

"I wasn't even thinking about meeting someone. Dating and women have been the last things on mind. Between Katie and my new job I've been pretty much consumed."

Merritt finally looked back over at him, and when she did, Kade smiled at her.

"But then, out of the blue, this woman...this beautiful, charming woman...catches my eye. And while I'll admit I didn't actually think I'd ever see her again, just meeting her stirred up so many feelings I thought had died along with my wife. But they weren't dead, Merritt. They were just embers. Smoldering. And waiting. Waiting for the right person to fan them into these first small flames."

Merritt hadn't been this nervous since she was Grace's age and held hands with a boy for the first time. Her heart was still pounding, her mouth was dry, and she felt so confused she didn't know what to say. And yet she spoke anyway hoping to turn this into a joke.

"So are you saying I'm...a fan?"

Kade's attempt to stifle a laugh was accompanied with a little spurting sound, and when she looked over at him, he started laughing.

"Hey! That's mean!" she said, just like she might have when she was 15 herself.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh."

Feeling somewhat better, she managed to say, "It was pretty bad, though, wasn't it?"

Kade let go of her hand, then reached over and brushed her hair back as he said, "No it wasn't. It was actually very nice."

He waited for her to look over at him then said, "I have to admit I was hoping for you to be more than just a friend."

He paused then said, "Or even...a fan."

He paused to let the play on words sink in then finished his thought.

Now it was Merritt making the snarking noise.

"That was bad!" she told him as their eyes met.

The laughter stopped and the smiles faded as Kade stared into her eyes.

"I really like you, Merritt, and I would like you to be more than just a fan."

"Oh?" she asked as Kade gently ran the back of his fingers along her cheek. "And what exactly is it you'd like me to be?"

He waited for her to look at him again then smiled at her before leaning across the gearshift and saying, "I think you know the answer to that," as he kissed her softly for the first time.

As their lips parted, Merritt quietly said, "Oh...that."

"Yes. That," Kade told her with a quiet laugh.

"Well. That...seems very nice."

"Yeah?" Kade said hopefully.

"Uh-huh. But maybe we should try it again. You know, just to be sure."

"Oh. Right. Yes, of course. That makes a lot of sense," he told her before kissing her again.

This time, Merritt smiled and told him, "Oh, wow. That really was nice. Very nice."

"Yes, it was. But I think we should periodically reverify our conclusion."

Merritt laughed a happy laugh before she leaned over and kissed him.

When that kiss ended, she asked, "So...does this mean we are together?"

"I'd like that very much," Kade told her in that way that her tummy do a flip-flop.

"Even though you know I have a 15-year old daughter and what that means in terms of my age?"

"I like Grace, too. A lot," Kade replied.

"Nice dodge," Merritt said, mostly teasing.

"Why? Because I don't care how old you are?"

"Kade? How can you not care?" she asked as her rational brain began working again.

"Because of all the things I've learned in life, I know that no amount of logical thinking can explain love. It just happens. We can't really even define it let alone explain it. But we most definitely know when it hits. And while it's too early to say I'm in love, I do know that I am smitten with you, Merritt King, and there is no number that's going to change that."

"Even if the first number is a...four?" she asked, her eyebrows now raised high.

"A FOUR? Are you kidding me? In THAT case, we are SO done!" Kade said in such a goofy, over-the-top way that Merritt couldn't help but laugh.

"So you really don't care?" she asked as though that couldn't be true.

"No. I don't. But if I tell you my age, you have to promise not to run."

"Uh-oh," Merritt said, trying to be just as funny, but in her case, the concern was real.

She faux cringed a little then said, "Okay. Tell me."

Kade saw her bracing and laughed as he told her his age.

Merritt's eyes opened wide and she shook her head then said as seriously as she could, "Oh, my word! Twenty-seven? My boyfriend is...a baby!"

"Wait. Did you just say...boyfriend?"

Merritt sighed even louder than before then said, "I think I kind of did."

She turned his way then said, "And the 'boy' part of boyfriend is...so true!"

When she saw Kade's face, she couldn't help but laugh, and when she did, he reached over and put his arms around her.

"This can work. You know that, right?" he told her very quietly.

"I've never dated anyone younger than me, Kade, so I'm going to have to take your word for it," she told him very sweetly.

"That's okay. I've never dated anyone older than me."

He pulled back a little then said, "And now here I am, dating a woman whose first digit is a...FOUR!"

"Not for long...buddy!" she fake threatened him before pulling him back close to her.

"So are you ready to go home?" he asked.

"I think so," Merritt said. "I'm just not sure I'm ready to tell my daughter I'm dating someone...."

Now she paused for effect then said, "Her age."

"Oh. Keep it up...Grandma!" Kade told her as she laughed happily as he pulled back then started the car.

"Grandma? Sheesh!" Merritt exclaimed as though she were offended.

"Hey. If the shawl fits...."

"Oh, I'll show you a shawl!" she replied, not caring that comment made no sense at all.

And when Kade took her hand a few moments later on the drive home, Merritt took another look at this much-younger man and wondered if this really could work.

Neither of them were surprised to find Katie sound asleep in Grace's bed. But both of them looked at the clock and wondered why Grace was also asleep right beside her.

"That is SO sweet," Merritt whispered when she saw them.

"Not to mention a 15-year old girl being so good to someone so much younger," Kade whispered back.

"She loves Katie," Merritt told him.

When he reached over and touched her hand, Merritt flinched and pulled it away then immediately apologized.

"I'm sorry. That was an involuntary reaction."

"It's okay. I totally understand," Kade assured her as he nodded toward the door suggesting they should leave.

"You don't have to wake Katie up," Merritt told him in her normal voice once they were a few feet away from the room.

"So I guess this will be her first-ever sleepover, huh?"

Merritt laughed then went to kiss him before quickly pulling back again.

Kade came close to making a joke about her paranoia, but she had a teenage daughter, and telling her she was now together with a man she barely knew could potentially be very upsetting.

Her recoil was followed by a laugh, and Kade realized that, too, was a reaction.

But after looking around, Merritt quietly said, "Grace is a very sound sleeper, so...."

She put her arms around him and kissed him softly. What she didn't know was that Grace wasn't all that sound asleep, and the sound of her mother's laughter woke her up. She got out of bed to see what was going on, but stopped when she saw her mom put her arms around Kade. When her mom then kissed him, Grace covered her mouth to make sure no sounds came out as she stood there watching what she couldn't believe was happening.

Without a word, she tiptoed back to her room and lay down on the bed careful not to disturb Katie whose little cheeks were looked so chubby and cute. Grace was on her back looking up at the ceiling as she rewound the tape of what she'd just seen in her mind. As she did she smiled. She smiled because she couldn't think of anything that would make her happier than for her mom to find someone who made her happy. And if that someone happened to be Katie Radliffe's father, that might even be better.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take Katie home?" Kade asked when the kiss ended.

"I'm sure," Merritt told him, a beautiful smile on her face as she looked into his eyes. "I'm not so sure I'm not dreaming, though."

Kade smiled then got serious.

"When you wake up tomorrow morning, it's almost certain that you're going to ask yourself if this really happened. Then you'll probably ask yourself what in the world you've gone and done and maybe find yourself in a kind of panic."

Merritt wanted to laugh, but she couldn't because as Kade's words sank in, she realized he was right. She had no idea how he could know her so well, but that was almost exactly the kind of thing she would do.

"So when that happens, please remember that this is very real. And when you start going down the path about our age difference, please remember that I'm not just some generic younger guy. Remember that I'm the younger guy who thinks you're beautiful, Merritt. I'm the guy who can't stop thinking about you and who wants to know everything there is to know about you."

"Okay," she replied very quietly.

Kade smiled again then continued.

"You'll also be telling yourself that you don't really know me. You'll then remind yourself we don't even know if we have anything in common."

Again, she was blown away by how accurate his observations were.

"But keep in mind that we do have things in common."

"Such as?" Merritt quietly asked.

"We both respect those who serve. We're both familiar with Army life. We both work for companies doing essentially the same thing, and...."

"And we both have daughters," she added with a smile.

"You see?" Kade told her with a quiet laugh.

"Okay. Maybe this can work," Merritt told him before putting her arms back around his neck and kissing him again. This kiss was much longer and while it didn't get out of hand, it was more passionate than any other kiss they'd yet shared.

"So don't let doubts ruin this before we give it a chance, okay?" he asked while he was still holding her in his arms.

"I won't. I promise," Merritt told him as she held him close, doing her best to put her doubts and concerns aside. For now, at least.

"In that case, I think it's time I headed home."

He let go of her, but Merritt gently grabbed his arm before he could turn toward the door.

"Kade?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

He wasn't sure what it was she was thanking him for as it could have been nothing more than going with her, but it also might have been for making her feel good again. Or maybe it was because he'd anticipated the inevitable doubts she'd experience once she was alone with her thoughts.

Regardless of the reason, he could feel the sincerity in her voice, so with a warm smile he told her, "You're welcome."

Grace heard the door close, and once she was sure Kade was gone, she walked into the living room and yawned for effect.

"Gracie. Hi, honey."

"Hi, Mom. How'd it go?"

"Oh. It was...okay. How'd your babysitting go?"

Grace explained how they ended up playing the video game Guitar Band and the way Katie 'rocked the house'.

"It was like an aerobics class, Mom. She was so funny! I had the best time just watching her running around and playing air guitar. She played so hard that after she sat down she fell asleep on the couch."

"Oh, okay. So you moved her into your bedroom."

"Yeah. Is that okay?"

"Of course. Her dad didn't want to wake her up, and I told him it was fine if she stayed her."

Her mom then realized she should have asked Grace, so she did.

"Is that okay with you?"

"Yeah. Katie is so much fun. She's like the little sister I never had but young enough not to be totally annoying."

Her mom laughed then said, "Right. If she was say...13 or so...."

"Uh-uh. No way," Grace said before her mom could finish.

When her mom laughed so happily, Grace felt safe asking her a question.

"So how was your date?"

"Date? Grace, where did you get the idea this was a date?" her mom asked, as though that was the craziest question ever.

"Sorry. I just thought you guys, you know, really liked each other or something."

Grace paused then asked, "Do you?"

"Well, yes. I mean, Kade is a very nice...young man. So of course I like him."

"But do you...like...him?"

"Like him? As in...boyfriend...like?"

"Well, yeah. Is that so hard to imagine?" Grace asked without letting on.

Merritt didn't want to lie to her daughter, but she wasn't ready to admit how much she actually did like him or that the 'BF' word Grace had just used had already been thrown around.

"Honey, you have to remember that he's a lot younger than me," her mom said, hoping that would do the trick. But when she remembered his age, the doubts Kade brought up reared their ugly head.

"He's not that young," Grace insisted. "I mean, he's been in the Army, he was married, and he has a daughter, so...."

Merritt looked at her her daughter then asked, "Gracie? Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

"I don't know," Grace replied a little defensively.

"Come sit down, okay?" her mom said, as she patted the empty area beside her on the couch.

Grace sat next to her mom who put her arm around her then pulled her close.

"I know how hard it's been with your father and me. And then I uprooted you and brought you here to a new town and a new school."

"Yeah, I'm not very happy with either one of you," her daughter said in a way that made her mom laugh.

"So the last thing you need right now is me getting involved with someone, right?" Merritt said as cheerfully as she could and feeling like she was now trying to convince herself.

"Not if it was with Kade," Grace replied, surprising her mother so much that she moved her arm away causing Grace to sit up straight.

"Grace, why would you say that?" her mom asked.

It wasn't rhetorical. She really wanted to know, and Grace picked up on that need immediately.

"Because I see the way you are when you're around him."

"And what way is that?"

"Well, you're...happy. You smile and you laugh and I see how you look at him."

Merritt wanted to argue and say there was no such way she looked at him, but her daughter was now old enough to be perceptive and notice such things, so she didn't even try.

"And he does the same thing to you, Mom."

Now returning to where she'd been just moments before about dating a younger man, Merritt asked Grace a question.

"Well, let's say you were right. How would it make you feel if I, you know, if I was say...dating...someone Kade's age."

"Mom. I already told you that as long as it's him, I'd be okay with it."