Page 12 of Wood You Knot

“Last time we saw you, you were heading off to college in the fall,” Nix recalled. “What did you end up taking?”

“I took a photography course. I didn’t end up graduating, though. I had Daphne.”

I’d wanted to finish my program, but my mother hadn’t been willing to watch Daphne for me while I was in class; especially not for photography, which she insisted was a hobby and not a real career. I couldn’t find a sitter who would take a baby under a year old, so I’d had to withdraw from the program halfway through the second semester. I still had and used my camera, but it was pretty much obsolete now.

The camera came in handy documenting my daughter’s life, but aside from bringing it out to take photos of Daphne or occasionally taking photos for Nellie, I’d let that dream gather dust—figuratively and literally.I had no idea how to set up a business, and I’d needed a job that would pay the bills.

When Daphne was old enough to attend day care, I jumped right into the workforce. A year of living with my mother and putting up with her comments was enough. I needed out. I took the first job offer I got—at the café—and worked my butt off to save up enough money to finally move out.

For two years, it was just Daph and me in a tiny one-bedroom basement apartment. Then Warren walked into my life, and I let him shake everything up.I practically handed him the keys to my life and let him take control.

“Do you still take photos?” Nix asked, his smile putting me at ease.

I hesitated, realizing we were monopolizing the conversation. I glanced at Tabitha and Parker, finding them watching the two of us with matching secret smiles on their faces, as if they’d fully intended for this to happen.

“As a hobby more than anything.” I blushed.

Chapter Four

Nix

Talking to Sage was just as effortless as I remembered. It was easy to fall into the conversation and forget we weren’t the only ones in the room. Sage being back in Hartwood Creek again—for good this time—seemed a little like fate to me.

I could feel Parker and Tabitha watching us, and so could Sage, by the way she just clammed up and started blushing beneath their gaze. I didn’t mind the audience, but I’d give anything for a minute alone with her.

“If you’re into sunset pictures, the beach still has the best views.” She blushed even deeper at that, and I could tell by the slight lift of her lips she was resisting smiling.

Maybe it wasn’t fair to hint at the time we’d almost shared a kiss. But I couldn’t help but flirt with her.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, sipping her coffee to hide her smile.

For the remainder of their visit, Sage was careful to not pay too much attention to me. She shifted her attention to Tabitha, asking her questions about school drop-off and pick-up times.

“I always go forty minutes early to get good parking, unless we walk,” Tabitha confessed with a giggle. “I pick up a coffee and bring a book. I can usually get in some reading while Bryson naps.”

“That sounds awesome,” Sage said, a genuine smile on her face. “My uncle Ed has me working until 3:00 p.m. every day this week so I can get Daph to and from school, but eventually I’m going to need to find after-school care so I can work the full shift. Do you know anyone?”

“There’s a really nice day care with a before and after-school program,” Tabitha said after a moment of thought. “But I’m not sure if they have any spots available. Maybe I could help you out for a bit? I don’t mind picking Daphne up with the girls and bringing her back here. What’s one extra kid?”

“That would be great. I’ll pay you, of course,” Sage said, looking relieved.

It was almost four o’clock when Sage and Daphne left. Daphne seemed to really hit it off with Bella and Brielle, not that that was surprising. My nieces were kind and inclusive kids. Tabitha and Parker had seen to that.

Sage and Tabitha seemed to hit it off, too, and I’d tried not to perk up too much at the thought of Sage coming around more. More opportunities to talk and flirt with her.

“Well, that was fun,” Tabitha declared, adjusting her hold on Bryson. She was attempting to clear the table with her free hand, piling plates on top of one another. I stepped forward to help, taking the plates off her and collecting the condiments.

“Yeah, it was.” I nodded with agreement, carrying everything into the house.

I helped my brother and his wife tidy up before making my way across the yard to the apartment above the detached garage.

I’d helped Parker build the garage when he first moved here. He wanted somewhere he could work on his projects, but he wanted to keep the historic look. He’d also wanted to include an income property—an apartment above the garage they could rent out for a bit of extra money.

After my relationship with my ex, Lori, ended abruptly almost two years ago, I’d had nowhere to go and hadn’t been willing to move back home with my parents. Noah Wood—Parker’s best friend and Tabitha’s cousin—had been renting the apartment above the garage. He ended up purchasing his own house closer to the resort his family owned and moved out around the time I caught Lori cheating.

I ended up in the apartment above the garage. It wasn’t huge, but it was perfect for a single guy…perfect for now. I had a five-year plan. I’d purchased my own plot of land on the outskirts of town and was planning on building. Eventually. I’d been sidetracked by the growing demands of my business.

It was hard to focus on building my own house when we had so many projects on the go, but next summer, I had plans to break ground and start building. For now, I didn’t mind my living arrangements. I got to see my nieces and nephew almost every day, and I spent a lot of my evenings helping Parker with renovations or the various woodworking projects he had on the go in the garage.

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