Nine

It seemed the entire family was waiting for them on the sidewalk when the car pulled up to a large, but unassuming farmhouse style house with a wrap-around porch.   Kara was slightly worried at the many people embracing Matthew and then turning expectantly to meet her, only to greet her the same way his older brother had.  Her nerves were shod by the time the greetings were over with and she wondered at how his family seemed to enjoy touch so much.  She had noticed that even in conversation they would touch an arm or a shoulder as if they found the contact to be important.

Her family only touched when it was expected or needed, but then her parents had usually dropped her off at her grandfather whenever they had better plans in mind.  But despite her grandfather’s gruff love, she had a tendency to avoid contact herself as well.  Touching and being touched seemed like it was an intimate gesture and she was not used to it.

There were t