Note: I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update this story.

Thanks to all who have read it so far and to all who have reviewed it. I really appreciate it!

Steve and Janet were in the kitchen when Brandon walked in through the back door. Janet was rinsing vegetables and fruit while Steve removed the last of the groceries from the bags and put them up.

“Hi Brandon,” Janet greeted. “Everything squared away at your job?”

“Yep. They did the whole walkthrough and showed me where my desk would be.”

“Great. You’re joining us for dinner, aren’t you?"

He hesitated. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll just get something later and let you guys have some family time.”

She waived his response aside. “Don’t worry about us. We’d love to have you stay for dinner, wouldn’t we, Steve?”

He agreed but Brandon replied as gently as possible. “I know but I’m not really hungry right now and still kind of getting my bearings back.”

“Ok.”

No sooner had Brandon walked out of the breakfast area, Janet turned to her husband and said in a low voice, “Get him to stay for dinner.”

Steve held out his hands, and whispered, “What?”

“Just go!” came the quiet order.

With an exaggerated sign of ‘much suffering,’ Steve put down the bread and went after Brandon, catching him at the stairwell. “Brandon.”

“Yeah?”

“I think you should stay for dinner. Janet was really counting on you joining us.”

“It’s that important?”

Casting a look back at the kitchen, he answered, “Trust me, it is.”

“Then tell her to count me in.”

“Thanks.”

Brandon nodded before taking the stairs two at a time while Steve headed back to Janet of his success.

Up in the guest bedroom, Brandon pulled out the paper with Kelly’s phone numbers on it and placed it on the nightstand with his cell phone on top. It would have to wait.

Janet finished setting the table just as the timer went off for the oven about an hour later.

“Perfect timing,” Steve commented as he sauntered back into the kitchen on cue. “I’ll give Brandon the heads up.”

Taking the lasagna dish out of the oven, Janet set it down on the burners. “I’ll do it. I need to get Maddie out of her room as well and I need to change. Can you put the food on the table, Steve?”

“Got it covered.”

She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. Watching her leave, he wondered just what his wife was up to because they had already had a big welcoming meal for Brandon. Then he decided, he didn’t want to know what she was up to and grabbed the potholders, using them to handle the ceramic dish. Walking into the dining room, he set it down on the open trivet.

Two things happened. He saw the fifth place setting and the doorbell rang. He took the few short steps to the front door and opened it.

“Well, hello there Kelly.” He grinned

“Hi Steve.” She looked a little embarrassed.

“You must be the fifth place setting at our table.”

“I am. Janet invited me to dinner. Sorry about my call to you earlier.”

“No apology necessary. Come on in.”

“Thanks.” Kelly hung around in the parlor as he closed the door.

“Hi Kelly,” Brandon greeted. Both turned toward the stairs.

No sooner had he reached the two of them, when Steve beat a hasty retreat. “Kitchen duty calls. Why don’t you two go ahead and sit at the table?”

The couple looked at each other.

“Ladies first.”

During dinner and even after in the living room, all four adults made a conscious effort to keep the conversation free of personal topics. Steve took it upon himself this time to insist that both him and Janet go up and tuck Maddie in for the night together, leaving Brandon and Kelly alone.

The two felt as if they were back in high school and left alone by the parents. Unasked questions in both of their minds manifested into a 500 pound elephant sitting in the room with them and trying to pretend it wasn’t there, made the silence stronger. After a moment, Brandon moved over from the arm chair and sat down on the couch near her, and joked, “Well, I think we covered all the basics during dinner.”

“Yeah, I think we did.”

“Although, if you like, we can go over my first day of work again.”

“I don’t know. I think Janet asked all the important questions.”

“Ok. Just wanted to make sure and let you know the offer is still open.”

She laughed. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“I know I mentioned it earlier, but I’m ready to stay in one place. I traveled enough and seen enough that what I thought was confining before isn’t that way anymore.”

“You had to get out there, though.”

“Yeah, I know. It certainly opened my eyes and my mind.” He glanced over at her. “There were times out there when I wished I had done things differently or said it differently.”

Kelly sat still before admitting quietly, “I try not to think about all the mistakes I made. And as far as words I’ve said or not said, that’s a whole other level of futile wishing.” She added with a sad smile, “No regrets, remember?”

“I remember.” Brandon turned toward her, leaning closer. Her eyes darkened even as she leaned in, narrowing the gap between their faces. When their lips met, both were thrown back to a time before no regrets when they were reaching beyond the farthest star.

“Oh, sorry,” Steve muttered, walking in on them in surprise.

Kelly and Brandon couldn’t have broken apart faster, faces flushed and the two of them clearing to separate sides of the couch.

“I’d better go.” Kelly fumbled for her purse. “I’ve got an early appointment tomorrow.”

“You don’t need to leave, Kel,” Steve said.

“I do. Please tell Janet thank you for inviting me and thanks to both of you for a wonderful dinner.” She avoided looking at Brandon.

“Sure, no problem. Glad you could join us.” Steve didn’t have a chance to get the door for her, for she was out and the door closed before he could even cross the tiles. He looked back at Brandon. “Sorry, man. I didn’t realize—“

“No, I’m sorry Steve.” He stood up, resignation underlying his voice. “Mind if I make some more coffee?”

“Help yourself. As a matter of fact, I’ll join you.”

Entering her condo, Kelly glanced over her open living area following it into the small dining room and neat kitchen. What had looked welcoming and home this morning, looked bare and lonely to her eyes now. Doubts crept in. Was she latching onto Brandon out of loneliness and nostalgia? He had barely gotten back into town and there she was, making a fool of herself over him. Had past mistakes taught her nothing?

Her hands tightened on her keys. She had run out on Steve and Brandon and now she wanted to run out from herself. She wavered before slowing releasing her keys and dropping them into the tray beside the door and walking further into her home.