Page 34 of Mine For The Winter

“He didn’t tell me you’d given it to him,” she said, her brows knitting.

Kris blinked, because he’d been expecting her to shout at him. Get angry, the way only Kelly could. Truth was, he’d quite looked forward to it back on Sunday after Cole had left.

He liked her fire. Or he had back when she’d had enough for all three of them.

“I didn’t know that,” Kris said. “He should have. I told him to talk to you.”

“When did you see him on Sunday?”

There it was again. That strange wobble in her voice. She looked vulnerable and it touched him. Way more than it should. “It was only for a minute. I went to the attic at the Inn to dig out my old toolbox and Cole wanted to come along while he waited for his friends.” He swallowed. “Everley came with us. It’s all above board.”

“I wasn’t accusing you of anything.” Her eyes caught his.

“I know. And I also know you have to be careful. He’s your kid and he’s precious. I get it.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“The jersey was in one of my boxes. Along with a photograph of us at prom.”

Kelly blinked. “Of us?”

“The three of us. You, me, and Lyle. Cole was interested in it. Asked if he could have it. Everley told him she’d fix the frame first because we didn’t know if you’d want him to take it.”

“He wanted a picture of us at prom?”

It was Kris’ turn to shrug. “I guess he wanted a picture of you and his dad from when you were young. I’m guessing he’s not that interested in me.”

Her lips twitched. “That dress I wore was terrible.”

“It was beautiful.” His eyes caught hers. “You looked beautiful that night.”

She didn’t move her gaze. Just stared right back at him with those soulful eyes. And it was like they were kids again, communicating by a roll of the eye. He’d loved her when they were kids and he’d loved her when they were adults.

He missed that feeling. Of knowing somebody who knew you so well they could almostbeyou.

“Do you hear from Lyle at all?” he asked her.

She didn’t seem surprised at his question. “Not much. A phone call to Cole once in a while.” She ran her tongue along her bottom lip to moisten it.

“He doesn’t come back?”

She shook her head.

“Why didn’t you tell me when he left?” The question he’d asked himself a thousand times.

“Because you’d left, too. And I didn’t need either of you. Cole and I were – we are—fine.”

“I know that.” He nodded. “You were always fine. And I never doubted you would be anything else. You were always the strongest of us.”

Her lips parted. “I had to be. But I’m not sure that I am anymore.”

He frowned. “Why not?”

“Because I’m afraid my kid is getting attached to you and I don’t know what to do about that.”

“Cole?”

“Yeah. He told me about the game. That he wants you to come watch him. I said I’d talk to you about it.”

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