Page 40 of Mine For The Winter

Kris had heard the story of Gabe and his wife. How she’d moved in with him to get over a bad relationship, and how neither of them had wanted to be attracted to each other.

Yet here they were, married with a kid.

North walked back into the kitchen, Willow in his arms, her face buried against his chest. “She says she had a nightmare,” he said, lifting a brow.

“I did, Daddy,” Willow whispered against his shirt.

“It’s okay.” North gently stroked her hair. “Daddy’s here now. Let’s get you a drink and you can go back to bed.”

“I’ll grab her cup,” Gabe said, standing and walking over to the cupboard by the sink. And for the next few minutes he watched as the two grown men he’d always looked up to treated North’s daughter like a princess and they were her slaves.

He’d never thought he’d see the day they were both brought to their knees by their kids. It made him feel wistful. And maybe a little sad he’d never had that for himself.

It also made him think things he shouldn’t. What if he’d stayed? Would he have held Cole the same way his brother was holding Willow?

He had no idea. And he’d never get that time back again.

And it was always the what-ifs that killed him.

* * *

Kris, Age 20

It was strange being back in his home town after a year at college. Sure, he’d come home last Christmas but he’d been working nonstop at the Inn. Luckily, business was quieter in the summer. He’d dropped his bags off at his cabin and popped into reception to say hello, then headed straight to the town square and the Tavern. Pushing the door open he could see it was as quiet here as it was everywhere else.

Kelly didn’t see him at first. She was behind the bar with her back to him. She wasn’t supposed to serve alcohol because she was under twenty-one, but people around here turned a blind eye.

Her dad was the first to spot him. Paul was in the corner, leaning over some papers, his brows pinched in concentration. Then he looked up and his eyes caught Kris’ and he lifted a hand. Kris waved back then strode to the counter.

“What does a guy have to do to get a drink around here?” he asked. Her shoulders tensed, then she slowly turned around, her face lighting up when she saw him.

“Oh my God! I thought you weren’t coming home until next week.” She practically ran around the counter and jumped into his arms. He caught her easily. She put her palms on his back and her eyes widened. “Where the hell did you get all these muscles from?”

“Hockey practice.”

She’d changed, too. She was wearing makeup, and her hair was straighter than he remembered. Like she was using an iron on it. She was wearing cut-offs and a low black top. If he looked down he could see her cleavage.

And yeah, he looked down. But only for a moment.

“Wanna go for a walk?” he asked her. She was still clinging to him like a koala. He liked it. She was so much happier to see him than his parents had been.

“Yeah.” She looked over his shoulder. “Dad, is it okay if I take my lunchbreak.”

“Go.” He sounded amused. “Have fun.”

Paul was no stranger when it came to Kris. They’d spent half their teenage years hanging out at his house or in the tavern. Kris liked that he trusted him with his daughter.

Instead of putting her down, he carried her out of the bar as she laughed, her head back, her hair looking red as they stepped into the sunlight. She smelt good, too. Like flowers. The sweet kind his grandma grew outside the Inn.

He put her down and she was still smiling at him.

“I’ve missed you, you idiot.” She slapped his arm. “You’ve got to learn to use a phone.”

He’d called her every few weeks, even though he’d wanted to talk to her every day. Tell her about how difficult he found the course work and how he enjoyed going out with his friends but it wasn’t the same without her. But he’d made a pact with Lyle and calling her more often felt wrong.

And in a stupid way he missed her so much he knew it would be worse if they were constantly talking.

“Well I’m here now.”

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