Page 6 of Second Chances with St. Nick

A wound split open in my chest as I watched him walk out the door. Like someone had slammed an axe into my sternum. He hadn’t wanted to answer her question.

But what should I expect? The moment I’d thrown away my glasses all those years ago, I’d undergone a transformation. Geek to a glowed-up beauty queen. Only, I hadn’t taken my best friend—my first love—along for the ride.

I counted to ten before I rounded on my mom. “I’d rather you didn’t discuss my love life in front of other people.”

She clacked her tongue against her teeth. “It’s only Nick. You’ve known each other forever. And anyway, he’s probably not interested in your dramas.” She shook out her cloth again, eyeing me steadily. “I never understood why you two didn’t end up together. You were practically joined at the hip as kids, and I’d have bet my best china there was more going on when you got older.”

“Mom, Nick was just a friend.”

I’d told no one about the night we kissed—the night he asked me to the Snow Ball and said I was all he’d ever wanted.

Mom folded her towel and popped it on the counter. “Well, friends or not, he’s turned into a fine-looking young man. Did you see his shoulders? I bet he could bench press a redwood. And it wouldn’t take much more than a nice suit to clean him up. He’d make a handsome date for Cissy’s wedding, wouldn’t you say?”

“Mom!”

“What? Don’t tell me you weren’t thinking the same thing. I saw the way you looked at him. I’d have found him pleasing in my day, too. Nice and tall. Though he could lose the ponytail, and I don’t know what he’s thinking with that beard.”

“Mom! Please.” I mean, his sandy-colored beard was a bit of a shock, but now I’d had time to check it out close up, I found I didn’t mind the idea. I’d describe my ex as preppy. Nick’s “man of the mountains” vibe struck quite a contrast—in all the right ways.

“I’m just saying you could do worse. You and Nick have always been close. Who knows what could happen if you spent a little time together? And why is he still single, looking like that?” She pulled up short, placing her hands on her hips. “Is he still single?”

I had no idea. Cissy gave me no reason to believe he wasn’t. But if I didn’t even know where he lived, how would I know if he had a girlfriend, or a wife?

Mom didn’t wait for an answer. “If I were you, I’d find out. Handsome young men are scarce, particularly ones with such fine manners.”

The noise of a throat clearing sounded out behind me and I spun round in my chair to face the door. Nick stood there, eyes too wide for comfort, and pinned on me. Even underneath the beard, he clamped his jaw tight.

My face erupted into a firestorm. How much had he heard?

The room fell into silence. After four ticks of the kitchen clock, Nick spoke. “I’ve unloaded the holly onto the deck. I put some tarp over it, but you might want to get Mr. Cooper to hang it soon. A storm’s heading our way in the next couple days.”

Nick dusted off his large hands. Did I look at his ring finger? Yes. Yes, I did. And I couldn’t deny the loosening of my shoulders when I saw it bare.

“Thank you, Nicholas.” Mom smoothed the back of her hair as if she was getting ready to meet royalty. “Would you like to stay for dinner? I’m sure you and Abigail would love some time to catch up.”

My gut rolled at her suggestion. If he’d heard our conversation, he’d think that both mom and I were angling for something more than a family dinner.

Nick shifted from foot to foot in the doorway, eyes bouncing about the room. “I… um…”

He glanced at me and the look in his eyes reminded me of a man pleading for his life at an execution.

“I’m sure Nick has things to do,” I said.

Mom let out a little sniff. “Well, that’s probably true. I hear around town you’ve been looking after your uncle. Is he on the mend now?”

With his bottom lip tethered between his teeth, Nick looked unsure—a little shy—and the sight took me back years. To the young boy I knew.

Finally, he nodded, reaching into his pocket and wedging his beanie onto his head. “Yes. And I need to get the truck back to him. Thanks for the hot chocolate, Mrs. Cooper. I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome, Nicholas,” Mom said. “Just remember, though, we’d love to see you at Cissy’s wedding. You could even play your little fiddle.”

I rolled my eyes internally. She didn’t even consider checking with Cissy. If I knew my cousin, she’d have her day planned with military precision. “Nick played the violin, Mom.” Still, anything would look small in his arms.

Nick lingered in the doorway. “I’ll try, but I have to help my uncle with work.”

“The wedding’s the day after Christmas! I’m sure he can spare you. What do you say, Abbie? Don’t you want Nick to come?”

His eyes darted to mine, and I swear his cheeks flushed.

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