Nick frowned for the first time since he’s started sharing his ideas.
“I… haven’t talked to him about it yet,” he admitted.
She thought about how fragile his dad had looked, how vulnerable, and wondered if Nick had kept his thoughts to himself out of fear of his father’s health.
“It’s not…” he started, then shook his head. “How about a walk?” he asked, nodding towards the windows.
When she’d woken that morning, it had been raining. Now, however, there was a break in the clouds and the sun was shining. Even though it was still a crisp winter morning in Wyoming, it was nice out.
“Sure.” She pulled out her purse and tried to pay for her half of breakfast, but Nick stopped her and paid the entire bill.
“It’s the least I can do after you baked for my dad.”
They strolled out of the diner and headed towards the center of town. There was a park right in front of the city building. Normally, on spring and summer days, kids and families filled the space. Now, however, it was empty. Holiday decorations adorned every light post and tree in the area. The gazebo in the center of the park area was completely decked out. A massive Christmas tree sat directly across the gazebo and had been officially lit the day after Thanksgiving, as was the town’s tradition.
They walked around the pathway and sat on a bench facing the huge tree.
How many times had she and her family enjoyed the park together? There had been summer concerts, movie nights, fall and winter festivals, not to mention her high school graduation party, which had been held around the gazebo area just across the grass under a million hanging string lights.
“This place is home.” He sighed and leaned back.
“I was thinking the same thing.” She smiled at him.
“I had my first kiss…” He motioned to a large tree known to the townspeople as the kissing tree.
“Seriously? You did the whole kissing tree thing?” She nudged his shoulder with her own.
“How do you think it got its name?” He smiled at her, and she realized that his smile was slightly crooked, which made her heart do a little flip. “I managed to get Leslie Thomas to sneak away from the summer festival and kiss me until her brother came looking for her.” He chuckled. “I earned a black eye for that move. What about you?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never kissed under the tree.”
“Where was your first kiss?”
“Under the bleachers,” she admitted. “Shelby Logan.” She smiled. “Before he and his family moved to California.”
He narrowed his eyes, as if trying to remember the boy. “He played basketball?”
“Football,” she corrected.
“Right.” He sighed and looked out over the park. “I can’t believe my dad only has days left. Maybe a couple weeks.”
She held her breath, knowing the sorrow he must be feeling, and then took his hand in hers, unsure how to help him through the pain.
He looked down at their hands. “I should get back…” he said but didn’t move.
“Nick, you don’t need to spread yourself thin. I can run my ranch fine while my folks are gone,” she said, unsure of why she thought it was important to say.
His eyes moved up to hers. “I like helping out. It keeps my mind off…” He closed his eyes, and she was afraid that she would see a tear slip down his cheek. Instead, he looked at their joined hands again. “I like helping.”
She didn’t want to take something away from him that was helping him through a dark time, so she nodded.
“Okay.” She shifted a little when the wind kicked up.
“You’re cold.” He stood up and pulled her with him. “Let’s head back.”
She wanted to tell him she was fine, but the truth was, the warm sunlight had been blocked by clouds and the temperature had dropped several degrees.
“We’re supposed to get snow later this week,” he said as they walked.