Page 89 of Until Now

“I think it would have shown up on the blood tests.”

“They checked?” She deflates when I nod.

“You seem disappointed.”

“The thought of a little Nick or Nina running around makes me happy.” Elizabeth laughs when I toss the Post-it note back at her and turn back to my email. “Uncle Jim gets out tomorrow.”

“Does that mean Alex is going back to school?”

“According to Sheyenne, he is. But, Nick doesn’t seem so sure.”

“What does that mean, according to Sheyenne?”

“Well, she didn’t let him say much. Whenever we’d ask him a question, she’d jump in and answer it for him.” I’m sure he loved that. “I could tell he was about to blow, but Josh kind of intervened. He asked her the question we’ve all been wanting to know.”

“Which is?”

“Why is she here when Nick has made it abundantly clear that they are not together.”

I try not to react, but I find myself giggling at the thought. Bub has never been very subtle.

“She says they’re not together.”

“Yet, she shows up anyway.”

“Personally, Nin, I think she wanted to meet you.” I give her my full attention. What does that mean? “She says we need to focus on what he really wants, instead of telling him what he wants. We’re all obsessed with this idea of you and him, so caught up in your fake relationship that we can’t see the truth.”

“Which is?”

“According to her, he doesn’t want you.”

A stab in the heart.

“Nick doesn’t agree.”

“Elizabeth, I don’t—”

“He didn’t hesitate to tell us that, Nina. And, I know him, he isn’t going to do something he doesn’t wanna do. He wants to fix things with you, he wants you. I just… Something is holding him back and I don’t know what it is.”

“I do.” Her interest peaks. “Well, sort of. Maybe. I think it has something to do with my mother. I don’t know what, but he said it in Haven and he said it the other night. Something isn’t right, Elizabeth. And, Lee made a comment about it the other night.”

“What do you think she did?”

I shrug, “I have no idea, but I know she told Karol that she didn’t like Nick. Didn’t think he was good enough.”

“Since when does she care?”

“Since I’m not dating Lee anymore.”

Chapter Fifty-One

“Happy birthday, Nina,”the waitress said, setting down a stack of funfetti pancakes — they were my favorite birthday treat when I was younger. It was tradition for Daddy to take me out for a birthday breakfast at Honeybee’s Cafe before work or school every year. The waitress, her name tag pinned to her sweater read Tessa, sat next to Daddy. Theresa “Tessa” Bennett had been our waitress at Honeybee’s Cafe for over fifteen years, even though she had moved from waitressing to running the place five years prior. When the former owner decided to sell the restaurant, he first offered it to Tessa, but she declined. There was no way she could afford it. When Daddy heard, he offered to invest in her and the business. She wanted to refuse, but he wouldn’t hear it. After two years, she became full owner. “And, this is for you,” Tessa handed the morning newspaper to Daddy.

“Thanks, Tess.” I began cutting the short stack into bite-size pieces, but I don’t miss the way the gap between Daddy and Tessa seemed to shrink.

“I can’t believe our little girl is all grown up, Ricky. Feels like just yesterday you were bringing her in for the first time, now she’s eighteen and soon off to college.” Tessa touched her heart, her eyes shimmering under the fluorescent lights.

“Hasn't she always been?” Daddy asked.

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