Missing

"Kaylie? I'm glad you apologized but you're rambling. You ramble when you're nervous. What is going on here?" her mother demanded to know.

"Okay, don't be mad, okay?" Kaylie began. "But when you were upstairs Kyle sent you a text and I um...kind of answered for you."

"You did what?" her mom said unable to believe what she was hearing.

"Just wait, okay? So I saw the text where Kyle said he really wanted to go out with you but he thought I would be all like upset or something and I didn't want you guys to have to keep waiting to go out because of me so I like texted him back and..."

"Oh, my God!" Melissa said. She turned to Redding and said, "Kyle, I am SO sorry!" Then she looked back at her daughter and asked, "Kaylie? What is wrong with you? Why would you do that? After last night and all this and now...this?"

"Mom," she said. She looked at Kyle and then her mom. "He's like...totally in love with you. Du-uuh!"

Melissa's eyes were now wide open. "Kaylie Marie Kellogg! Have you lost your mind?" She turned to Kyle and tried to explain. "I didn't know about any of this. I don't even know what to say. I never saw your text and I didn't..."

"She's right, you know," Kyle said stopping Melissa in mid-sentence.

Kaylie was beaming and finally sat down.

"She is?" Melissa said in a suddenly very-quiet voice.

"Yes, she is. Besides, this can't be a surprise. Mr. Elkins let the cat out of the bag and I kind of, sort of confirmed that before I left. Then when you texted me back..." He looked at Kaylie and smiled at her, "Well, when your daughter texted me back, I decided I was going to stop hiding my feelings and pretending they weren't real. So yeah, Kaylie is absolutely right."

"Well, this is...awkward," Melissa said not knowing what else to say but wanting to pour her heart out to Kyle, just not in front of her daughter.

Kaylie stood up and pointed upstairs. "I should probably go up to my room now and take care of that...thing."

"Thing?" Melissa said still in shock. "Oh, right. That...thing. Um, yes, that sounds like a really good idea, honey."

"So...I'll go do that while you guys talk about...stuff." She headed for the stairs and added, "You know, like what we're having for dinner."

"Dinner! I don't have anything in the house for dinner," Melissa said having totally forgotten.

"Then you guys should start talking 'cuz I'm like totally starving." Kaylie smiled then headed up to her room.

They were sitting all alone when Kyle said, "Pretty blouse."

Melissa couldn't help but laugh as the pieces of this latest puzzle began coming together. "I think my daughter has gone from having a crush on you to being our matchmaker in 24 hours."

"I like her taste in men she thinks should meet her mom," Kyle said.

"Yeah, me too," Melissa said. She turned sideways to nearly face him then said, "Kyle, Kaylie had the best of intentions, I'm sure, but you don't need to feel obligated to say things..."

He slid closer and took her hand and said, "Things...that I feel? Things...that are true? Things I've wanted to tell you for two years but was too afraid to say? Things like that?"

Her eyes were gentle and even needy as she asked him, "Would it be okay if I were to ask exactly what kind of feelings you have for me?"

He let go of her hand and gently touched her cheek as he said, "I've hinted around about this all day and I don't want to hint or hide any longer. I love you, Melissa." He watched her eyes as he told her and liked what he saw. "So is that clear enough or should I say..."

She leaned over and kissed him for several seconds before answering. In a hushed tone she told him, "I think that's enough," as she put her arm around his neck and pulled him close for another longer more passionate kiss. When their lips parted she whispered, "I love you too, Kyle."

Both of them heard a hushed, "Yes!!" from the top of the stairs and the happy couple couldn't help but laugh.

"You are SO in trouble, young lady!" her mom called out.

"Fine, but you still have to feed me even if I'm in jail so...what are we having for dinner?"

"Oh, shit!" Melissa said quietly. "Would you like to have some pizza with us or maybe go out with us for dinner?"

"I'd love to but only if I pay," he said.

"Uh-uh! You paid for Mr. Elkins. The least I can do is buy us dinner."

Kyle stood up and offered Melissa his hands. She stood up and he put his arms around her and said, "Okay. But just this one time. From now on I pay. Deal?"

"It is if you'll kiss me again," she said.

As their lips met they both heard, "A-HEM! I'm like starving up here!"

"I think we should go eat," Melissa said.

"How about we let Kaylie choose the place?" he suggested.

"Works for me," Melissa told him. "Okay, go grab your coat and bring my blue sweater down so we can go eat."

"Finally!" Kaylie said pretending to be annoyed.

Dinner was surprisingly pleasant and comfortable and Kaylie surprised both of them when she revealed there was a boy at school—her own age—she really liked. Well, he was 15, but Melissa was beside herself when she found out he was within a year of being her same age.

"So are you really okay with...me and Kyle?" she asked.

"Mom? It's Kyle and me," she corrected her trying not to laugh. "And yes, I'm totally cool with it." She smiled at both of them then said, "I mean, you could do a lot worse, right?"

Kyle tilted his head and said, "I can accept that. I believe that's high praise!"

He didn't stay long when Melissa invited him in but they made plans to spend time together that weekend and several times the following week.

Melissa couldn't wait to call him on Wednesday when Kaylie's father asked if she could possibly stay overnight one day that weekend. She told him that sounded like a great idea, which it was for its own sake, but it also meant the could finally be alone—for an entire night and she couldn't wait.

Kyle took her to the best restaurant in town then drove them back to his place. "Did you remember to bring your toothbrush?" he joked as he led her inside.

"It's right in here," she said pointing to the small bag she was carrying. When Kyle closed the door she said, "It's right next to this very sexy body suit I picked up from Victoria Secret."

He took her hand and led to the bedroom and said, "I'm sure it's very hot, but you do know it's not going to stay on you very long."

"I'm counting on that," she told him with a delicious smile.

Melissa excused herself to go change in the bathroom and when she came out, Kyle was stunned. "Oh...my...God," he murmured. "You're unbelievably gorgeous."

The very sexy, high-neck cutout teddy was amazing, but it was Melissa's body that made it so.

She began undressing him as she said, "Thank you for saying that, but what I really am is nervous as hell. Do you have any idea how long it's been for me?"

"No, and other than genuinely caring about your feelings, it doesn't matter to me. All that matters is that it's with me."

As his shirt fell to the floor she told him, "I love you so much. You know that, right? You tell me that all the time and I love hearing it, but I truly love you, Kyle." She kissed him and said, "I really do."

As they worked together on his pants, he said, "I love you too, Melissa. And...I wanted to tell you that you inspire me."

"How so?" she asked as she pulled his pants down.

"I think I might want to play again," he said. "Maybe even go back on tour. But only if you and Kaylie go with me."

"Are you serious?" she asked stopping for a moment to pose the question. "You really want to play the violin again?"

"I think so. You make me want to be the best I can, so yeah, I want to at least talk about it with you."

"Wow! That's so amazing!" She pulled down his underwear and saw him for the first time. "Speaking of amazing!"

He wasn't the biggest guy she'd ever seen, but then she'd only seen four guys including Justin whom she'd never actually 'seen' because it was dark when they did it and over before she knew it had started. But from what she did know, he was very nicely hung. He also had something she'd never seen before and it made her smile. He had a kind of curve in his dick and Kyle noticed she'd noticed.

"It's from using the same hand my whole life," he said very seriously. "I'm obviously a lefty."

Melissa couldn't help laughing. "You goof! Do you know how much I love you?" she said as kissed him and held him her hand. As their tongues played Melissa made her pleasure known. "Mmmm. You also inspire me," she said as she walked him back to the bed. "I think I want to play an instrument, too." She took him her hand and gently stroked him.

"And what instrument might that be?" he said with a smile.

"Well...I was thinking maybe I'd start with the pink piccolo," she said as her fingers raised up and down on his now almost-straight shaft before taking him in her mouth for the first time.

As she played the one-holed flute, Kyle groaned with pleasure. "Oh, wow. You're a virtuoso!"

"Oh, I'll blow your...mind...before this is over," she teased as she took him deeper. "Mmmm. You taste so good," she told him.

He was already on the verge so he said, "I'm kind of hungry, too. Mind if I eat a little?"

Melissa laughed again and laid down beside him. "Eat all you like. It's very low cal."

Kyle laughed too, then slid between her legs and dug in. "Mmmm. Very nice," he told her.

Melissa didn't hear him. She tried to remember the last time a man had done that for her and it had been so long she wasn't sure. She was sure however, that this felt incredible.

"Mmmm. That feels so good," she moaned softly. "I hope you're really, really hungry tonight." She put her hand behind his head then raised her head to watch him. "You are so handsome," she said as he licked and flicked and made her day.

Kyle knew when it came to lovemaking itself, he still had plenty of room for improvement. He'd only ever been with his former manager and he was concerned about his staying power. Therefore he made sure his beautiful lover had an intense orgasm before donning a raincoat and...going in. To his surprise and to Melissa's great delight, he managed to hold off just long enough for her to experience a second release although doing so required a little help from her rather adroit fingers.

Like many women, sex for Melissa was very nice, but not the be-all, end-all in a relationship. She loved Kyle for so many other things and the fact that he was only above average in the lovemaking department held no meaning for her. She'd cum twice and more importantly, he provided her the kind of intimate closeness she craved.

From her perspective, it didn't get any better than this, at least not in the real world. She'd only had great sex with one man and he was neither romantic nor intimate. He was just a machine. A very handsome, very talented machine, and Melissa would take love and affection with good sex over empty, great sex any day.

Besides, her handsome lover was young and there was plenty of time for improvement in that one area. She knew married couples spent maybe an hour or two a week 'doing it' and the rest of their lives living them. Kyle was everything she'd ever dreamed of in every other area and not bad in this one. So in a word, he was a keeper.

Ironically, it was Melissa who had the feelings of inadequacy afterwards. Her own relative lack of experience and her concerns with how her body looked overpowered any thoughts about Kyle's lovemaking prowess. If he could accept her as she was that would make her the happiest woman on earth. And based and the way he looked at her, she knew he accepted her totally.

"I can't believe you're here making love with me," he told her when they were done.

"You? I can't believe you want me here making love with you," she told him letting her insecurities slip out.

He raised up on one elbow and said, "You still have no idea how utterly gorgeous and desirable you are to me, do you?" He brushed her pretty red hair back and said, "I've been so in love with for so long it hurt. I never dared to dream you might one day love me back."

"And yet I do," she told him as she rested her hand on his cheek. "You make me feel beautiful and desirable and that just makes me love you more. I have to say the age difference scares me a little, but if it doesn't bother you, then I'll try not to let it bother me."

"Is it that I'm not mature enough or that we don't share the same world of experiences?" he asked with genuine concern.

"No! None of that," she assured him. "Don't laugh at me, okay?" she asked.

"Never," he told her.

"I guess my biggest fear is you'll one day see me as that 'old woman' and you won't love me anymore."

He kissed and told her, "I can absolutely assure you that will never happen." He kissed her again and added, "Ever."

She reached for him and said, "I believe you, sweetheart. So...can I possibly have you again?"

Kyle smiled at her and said, "We only have one night. I think we should make the best of it."

This time was even better as Kyle was able to hold out even longer now that he'd been fully drained once. Melissa came twice again and as she fell asleep in his arms, couldn't imagine a better life.

The very next day and over the next three months, Kyle began to play again. Slowly, he increased his practice from an hour to six hours a day and although he was sure he'd never be where he was before the breakdown, he knew he was good enough to again go on tour. He might be not be ready to play the classics, but he could play popular music for a younger crowd and do so without the relentless need for perfection.

He and Melissa dated openly with Kaylie's complete approval while she and her father and step mother established a warm, loving relationship.

As the school year was ending, Kyle asked Melissa if she'd like to go on the road with him and serve as his manager.

"Are you out of your mind? I don't know a thing about managing anyone," she said. "Besides, I have a life here and a daughter and unless we were married, I wouldn't even consider that."

Kyle smiled being getting down on one knee. He produced a modest-sized diamond ring and said, "Then marry me, sweetheart. Marry me and spend the summer traveling around the country. Kaylie can come with us and also spend time with her father."

Melissa ears stopped hearing after he said, "Marry me, sweetheart."

"Stop talking and put the ring on my finger and we'll figure the rest out!" she said.

After going upstairs to make love, they began to make plans. "I've already reached out to some old points of contact and they can guarantee us a gig in those cities. While we're setting up for those, I'll show you how this business works, give you all my other old names and numbers, and you can learn as we go. There's a ton of money in this business, but unless I can share it with you, I don't want it."

"I don't care about the money. I just want to be with you. If this is your dream, I'll be the best damn manager you ever saw. And as long as I have a ring and a date, I can wait to actually marry you."

Kyle laughed as he rolled over on top of her. "I just need to warn you that I have sex with all my managers."

Melissa knew the story about his first and only other love and she just laughed. "Well, if that's a requirement of the job, then I'll just to um...suck...it up. And maybe suck you, too."

Both of them laughed as she pulled him on top and asked him to make love to her again.

They toured all that summer then came home with a very nice sum of cash as Kaylie got ready to start her sophomore year. She'd spent most of the time with them touring but also spent a few weeks with her father.

Kyle and Melissa were married on Labor Day surrounded by the people they loved, to include Justin and his wife, who were happy to accept the wedding invitation.

It was none too soon as Melissa was already six weeks pregnant with their first child. As much as Kyle had enjoyed touring again, his first love was his wife and new family. After that initial blitz to re-establish himself, he took the occasional three-day road trip to give a concert and supplement their income, but his real joy came from being home with his wife, with Kaylie, and with their newborn son, Connor Allen Redding.

Misunderstandings sometimes have an interesting way of unfolding, and had Kaylie not gone missing one late night many months ago, it's unlikely that Kyle and Melissa would have ever known the kind of love they now shared.

Garth Brooks sang a song called Thank God for Unanswered Prayers. Melissa often thanked him for misunderstandings.