Page 84 of Mine For The Winter

“Yeah. He’s a good kid.”

“Thank you. I think he’s a bit in love with you, too.”

“And that’s why I’ll be careful. I promise you.”

* * *

Kelly put the phone down as her dad walked into the kitchen, one hand curled around his cane, the other holding a large white envelope.

“What’s that?” she asked him.

“Got my date for my consultation with the new doc. And the surgery won’t be until the end of January at the earliest.” He flashed her a smile. “That’s good, right? I’ll be here to take care of Cole during the busiest time at the Tavern.”

“Yeah, that’s good.” She nodded, still thinking about Kris’ words. That he might stay around. He might be here after the holidays were over. It confused her and warmed her and it was all too much.

And maybe not enough.

“We’ll need to figure out who’ll watch Cole while I’m in the hospital,” her dad said.

“And afterward. You won’t be able to take care of him while you’re recovering.” Yeah, it was another thing she needed to think about, among all the other competing priorities in her head. Sometimes she felt like she was a walking scheduler, trying to juggle who was supposed to be where and when at any given time.

“You think you’ll be able to get a sitter?”

Truth was, they were hard to come by. But after the holidays it would be easier. “I’ll find somebody. Let’s not worry about it now. What else is in that letter?”

“All kinds of information about the surgery. A few forms. And what I’ll need to do for rehab.”

“It’s exciting.”

“Yeah, it is.” Her dad’s eyes were warm. “I owe Kris a lot. I need to buy him a bellyful of beers some time.”

She lifted a brow. “That makes two of us.”

“I heard you were out with him last night,” her dad said slyly. Kelly blinked, surprised.

“You did?”

“Yep. Charlie saw Dolores who told him that North and Gabe were covering the tavern while you and Kris went out somewhere.”

“We just went to talk,” she told him. And it was mostly the truth. She’d wanted more. She’d wanted to go home with him.

And he’d rejected her. Kind of.

“I’m glad.” Her dad gave her a pat on the arm. “And I wouldn’t have minded if you were doing more.”

“Dad!” She was shocked.

He chuckled. “I may be old but I’m not decrepit. And you’re in your prime. You deserve to have a bit of fun. A bit of kindness, too. And Kris is a good man.”

“Yeah he is.” There was a lump in her throat.

“It’s funny, because I can remember you being so upset when he left,” her dad said, sitting down heavily on one of the kitchen chairs. She should be heading to the tavern, but her dad obviously wanted to talk, so she sat down on the chair opposite his.

“You do?”

“Yeah. And the funnier thing is I don’t remember you being half as upset when Lyle left. Even though he’s Cole’s dad and you two were together.”

“I guess the relationship ended long before he left.”

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