Page 25 of Mine For The Winter

“Is Cole okay?” she asked, because she knew better than to push her dad when he didn’t want to talk about something. It was like knowing herself.

“He’s fine. Still excited about his win.” Her dad smiled. “That kid is a goodun.”

Yeah, he was. “Thank you for looking after him.”

Her dad’s gaze lifted. “Thank you for looking after all of us.”

It was weird how raw she felt. How emotional. “I’m going to head to bed. Another early start tomorrow.” And she needed to think of a plan. To talk to somebody about a loan. Because her dad couldn’t go on like this. “Night, Dad. Try to get some sleep.”

She kissed him softly on the cheek and he patted her arm. “Night, honey. I’ll be fine. Now go to bed before you fall asleep on your feet.”

* * *

Kelly – age 16

“You got your ugly boots on again,” her dad said as she walked into the Tavern. It was almost empty – no surprise since it was four o’clock on a weekday at the start of fall. There was a guy holding up the bar at the end, and a couple whispering furiously in the corner, but that was it.

“They’re called Ugg boots, Dad.” She smiled because he knew that. And to be fair, they weren’t genuine Uggs either. Who the heck could afford those? They were pretends, fakes, knock offs. And since she’d bought them last week, nobody had let her hear the end of it.

Not her dad, not Lyle, and definitely not Kris. He told her she looked like she was half woman half horse.

The idiot.

“How was school?” her dad asked.

“Boring.” Truth was, it was horrible. Most of the class was away visiting colleges, including Kris. It had just been her and Lyle hanging around and it felt like her arm was missing or something.

A little taste of what it would be like next year when Kris went to college and left her and Lyle behind. Lyle already had a job offer from Walker Woods in Marshall’s Gap, and she was going to sign up for some community college classes while she spent the rest of her time working at the tavern.

She wouldn’t be able to serve alcohol, but she could do everything else. And let’s face it, when people weren’t watching she’d probably sneak behind the bar to serve, too.

“It’s college day, right?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She nodded. He must have overheard her talking with Kris about it last week.

“Must be hard watching your friends leave.”

“They’ll be back,” she said, her voice thick. They would, tomorrow at least.

But next year they’d be gone for good. The thought made her heart hurt.

“It’s not too late for you to go look at some colleges, too, you know?” her dad said. “We can make it work. I’ve got some money saved. We can take out loans.”

She gave him a smile. “It’s all good. I’ve got community college. And this place.” She looked around at the empty tavern. “Anyway, you trying to get rid of me or what?”

Her dad looked at her carefully, not smiling at her teasing. “I just want you to be happy, Kel.”

“I am. Real happy. I promise.” She leaned forward to hug him. “It’ll all be fine.”

He didn’t tease her for saying the word like Kris did. She’d miss that, too.

The same way she’d miss him. He hadn’t even left yet and it already hurt.

But she’d get used to it. She’d have to. She had no choice.

8

When she got up the next morning, Cole was already shoveling cereal into his mouth and watching morning cartoons on the television. Her dad’s door was closed and she walked softly past it, not wanting to wake him.

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