Page 128 of Mine For The Winter

Kris had left early that morning. They’d talked and nothing more. But it had felt good. Cathartic.

Like they were back to where they should have been all along.

“The doctor says you need to rest for a few days. You can go back after Christmas break.You’ll only be missing two days.” She poured some milk into a glass and passed it to him, ruffling his hair before picking up her coffee cup.

“But I won’t be able to show anybody my wound then.” He huffed. “It’ll be all healed by then.”

Thank God for that. “And that’s why you’re not going to school, honey. You expose your wound and it gets infected and then we’ll end up back in the hospital again. Anyway, you’ll almost certainly have a scar. You can show it off to your heart’s content once you’re healed.”

It made her chest hurt to know that his body would bear a permanent mark from his illness. He was so young and his skin was so perfect.

But then she had scars, too. Visible and invisible ones. They were the building bricks to her life. The only way to avoid them was to hide yourself away until the day you died.

And she didn’t want to do that.

“I will?” He grinned. “Scars are cool. Danny has one on his eyebrow. It cuts right through the hair. Makes him look badass.”

“Badass?” she repeated. “Really?”

“Yep. He got it from skiing into a tree last winter. His dad says he’ll get all the girls with it when he’s older.”

“I bet.” She heard a rap at the front door and her heart did a little skip. Kris had arranged to come over early to see Cole, before heading to the tavern to open up. “I’ll get that, you stay here and finish your milk.”

It was impossible not to be the mother hen, at least for a few more days. She didn’t sleep last night after Kris left, going in to check on Cole every twenty minutes just to make sure he was breathing. She knew she’d have to chill it, not least because Cole hated it when she fussed.

But for a few days she was going to make a fuss of him regardless.

“Hey.” Kris was standing on the stoop when she opened the door, a warm smile on his face. Next to him was a huge cooler, the plastic kind with wheels that people took on picnics in the summer.

“What’s that?” she asked him.

He hunkered down to pop the lid off, revealing at least a dozen dishes topped with silver foil stacked on top of each other. “It’s your dinner for the next three months.”

“You made all of this.”

He put the lid back on and stood back up, grinning. “Nope. Half the town did. There’s more in the freezer at the tavern. I spent most of last night at the tavern taking them in from the townsfolk because I didn’t want them to disturb you by leaving them at the front door.”

“People cooked for us?” Her throat felt tight.

“That’s what people do.” He shrugged. “Around here at least. I don’t remember anybody bringing me food in London when I was released from the hospital.”

She tipped her head to the side. “You had surgery in London?”

“Had to have my tonsils removed. The surgeon told me I was the only person over fifteen who had them done that week. I felt like a loser.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “Now are you going to ask me inside or am I going to stay out here and freeze my balls off?”

Her dad was shuffling out of his bedroom when the two of them stepped into the hallway, Kris pulling the cooler along behind him.

“Morning,” her dad said. He didn’t look at all surprised to see Kris.

“Morning, Paul.” Kris put his hand on the dip of Kelly’s back, his palm firm against her sweater. “Want to come with me to the tavern today? We could use your guidance.”

Her dad’s face lit up. “Yeah, I’d like that.” He glanced at Kelly. “If it’s okay with you.”

“It’s fine with me.” She nodded. “I’ll be here taking care of Cole.”

“I’ll go get myself ready.” Her dad turned back to his room, leaning heavily on his cane. He glanced back at Kris. “You’re a good man.”

She heard Kris’ sharp breath. Her dad’s words meant a lot to him. For too long he’d seen himself as the bad guy in a situation where nothing turned out well.

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