Chapter 10 #2
Not long after, Mrs. Knox arrived with Connor, both bundled up against the chilly December air.
Connor was practically waddling in his puffy jacket and snow pants, his cheeks pink from the cold, while Mrs. Knox looked as warm and cheerful as ever, her wool coat neatly buttoned and her grey hair tucked under a festive red hat.
“Look who I found wandering around,” she teased as she and Connor approached the booth.
“Mrs. Knox, thank you so much,” I said sincerely, stepping out from behind the table to greet them.
“Oh, it’s nothing, dear,” she said, waving a hand as she pulled Connor’s toque over his ears. “I’m happy to help. Besides, this boy is always such a joy. We had quite the snowman-building session this morning, didn’t we?”
Connor’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he nodded enthusiastically. “He’s the biggest snowman we’ve ever made!”
“That’s because I helped,” Mrs. Knox said with a wink.
I laughed, my heart swelling with gratitude. “You’re the best, Mrs. Knox. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Oh, hush now,” she scolded gently, her eyes softening. “I love having you two around. You keep me young.” She glanced at the booth, her eyes lighting up. “And this looks beautiful! Did you and Benny do all this?”
“All Benny, honestly,” I admitted, gesturing to the perfectly arranged rows of cookies and cocoa. “He’s got an eye for this stuff.”
Mrs. Knox chuckled. “That boy always was a perfectionist. I remember when he was Connor’s age, he’d spend hours decorating his Christmas tree, making sure every ornament was just right.”
I smiled, my heart tightening. Mrs. Knox had been a lifesaver since Connor and I moved here.
A retired teacher in her mid-sixties, she lived alone now, her husband having passed away a few years back.
Though she had kids and grandkids, they lived hours away, and she didn’t see them as often as she’d like.
Somehow, she’d unofficially adopted Connor and me into her life, offering to babysit, bring over meals, or just lend a listening ear.
Mrs. Knox brushed snow from her coat as she prepared to head home. “I’d stay longer, but my old bones are begging for a warm blanket and some hot tea,” she teased, her eyes twinkling.
“Thank you again, Mrs. Knox,” I said, giving her a quick hug. “I know it’s a lot to ask.”
“Oh, pish,” she waved a hand, her cheeks rosy from the cold. “You two have become like family to me. And besides,” she winked at Connor, “who else is going to help me build record-breaking snowmen?”
Connor beamed. “We’ll make an even bigger one next time!”
“I'll hold you to that,” she laughed, ruffling his hat. “You two have fun now. And don’t eat too many cookies.”
“No promises,” Connor said, his mischievous grin on full display.
Mrs. Knox’s laughter floated behind her as she walked away, her red hat bobbing through the crowd until she was out of sight.
I watched her go, warmth blooming in my chest. I hadn’t expected to find this kind of community when I moved here–hadn’t expected to find people who’d show up for me, for Connor, just because they wanted to.
Starting over had been terrifying, and there were still days when the loneliness crept in, days when the weight of doing it all on my own felt crushing.
Then there were days like this, reminders that I wasn’t as alone as I sometimes felt.
People like Mrs. Knox made it easier. They gave us a sense of belonging, of home.
I exhaled, letting the warmth of the thought settle over me, though the feeling wavered as I turned back to the booth.
Something prickled at the back of my neck.
The festive buzz of Winterfest carried on around me, but for a split second, the rest of the world felt too still. That same creeping awareness that always seemed to follow me, the sense that I was being watched. I glanced around, my fingers tightening around the edge of the counter.
Nothing. Just people moving around the festival, their faces familiar. Safe.
Get a grip, Harper.
I shook off the feeling, forcing myself to focus–just as a shadow fell over the counter.
My breath hitched, my stomach clenching before my brain caught up.
Ryan.
He stood there, bundled up in a navy coat and a beanie, his easy grin warming me more than the nearby heaters.
“You okay?” he asked, brows lifting slightly.
I forced a smile, shaking off the last of my nerves. “Yeah. Just lost in thought.”
“How’s the booth holding up?” he asked, his hands sliding into his pockets.
“So far, so good,” I replied, nodding toward the steady stream of people picking up cocoa and baked goods. “No sabotage yet, but Benny’s still on high alert.”
Ryan chuckled, his shoulders shaking beneath his coat. “Good to know. Though I’m here on another mission.”
“Oh?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, curiosity prickling.
He gestured toward Connor, who was taking his “job” very seriously, chatting with the customers and counting change with great concentration.
“I was thinking I could take him off your hands for a while. There’s a lot going on–games, activities, you name it.
Figured we could hit a few before the fireworks later. ”
Connor’s head snapped up at the word “fireworks.” He rushed over, his eyes wide with excitement. “Can we, Mom? Please? Liam told me that there’s a snow maze and a snowball toss and–”
“Okay, okay,” I said, holding up my hands with a laugh. “I get the picture.”
I hesitated. My fingers twitched toward the edge of the table, fidgeting with the corner of a napkin.
Part of me wanted to say no. Not because I didn’t trust Ryan–he’d proven that he was dependable.
But still… handing my son off, even just for an hour or two, wasn’t something I did lightly.
Even with Mrs. Knox–who’d already watched Connor a handful of times and treated him like one of her own–I always felt that tiny squeeze in my chest when I let him out of my sight.
Connor talked about Coach Ryan every single day. Multiple times a day. Like he was the human embodiment of a superhero. He looked up to him in a way I hadn’t seen since… well, ever.
And if I wanted Connor to feel at home in this town… if I wanted to believe that I could feel safe here too, I had to start letting go. Just a little.
“I promise to keep him out of trouble,” Ryan said, his voice gentler now, like he sensed my internal war. “And I won’t let him out of my sight.”
Connor practically bounced on his toes, his excitement infectious. “Please, Mom?”
I sighed, my resistance softening as I reached out and tugged his hat snug over his ears. “Alright. Just… text me every now and then, okay? Check in.”
Ryan nodded. “Of course.”
“You stay with Ryan,” I said to Connor, squatting slightly so I was eye level with him. “Listen to him, and no running off.”
“I won’t, Mom. I promise!” he beamed.
I straightened and gave Ryan a small, grateful smile. “I’ll come find you once I’m free here.”
“No rush,” he said with a small shrug. “We’ll keep busy.”
Connor grabbed Ryan’s hand, already tugging him toward the snow maze. “Come on! I want to see if it’s really as big as Liam said!”
Ryan shot me one last glance, his smile softening. “See you later, Harper.”
“See you,” I called, my voice a little breathy as I watched them walk away.
I couldn’t help but watch them for a moment—Connor skipping ahead, his hat bobbing with each step, and Ryan easily matching his pace. He glanced back once, catching me looking. A small, playful grin tugged at his mouth as he lifted a hand in a wave before disappearing into the crowd.