Chapter 9 Hunter
Tuesday December 4, 1:30 p.m.
Hunter fought the urge to call the school all day, to either talk to Rosa or leave her a message. But he didn’t. Because after last night’s outburst at Tate’s house, he knew she needed space. Maybe more space than he wanted to give her.
At the same time, he desperately wanted to talk to her. To tell her it didn’t matter to him if Rosa knew Megan. To convey to Rosa that her parents’ death wasn’t her fault. But mostly he wanted to know–was she okay?
The fact that Rosa and Megan knew each other, even if only briefly during cancer treatment, had been shocking. Hunter had no time to even process it before Rosa had run out the door. And the fact that her parents died the day of Rosa’s diagnosis, on the way to comfort her, was a lot to process.
Many times over the past two years, Hunter had told Tate he wasn’t ready to date. But maybe he was? Especially someone like Rosa who knew how hard cancer was. Who understood his situation and cared for his daughter. And was okay with both. Who helped him talk about his own grief in a way he hadn’t before.
He couldn’t let Rosa go so quickly. There had definitely been a spark between them up on the trail. Then again at the boot shop, though his heart wanted to say no. But after seeing her at the school? He was willing to give it a shot.
Their walk downtown had been magical. Holding hands. Sharing gingerbread cookies. Almost kissing on the bench. Enjoying the alpine horns at the gazebo. It was like he was in those Hallmark movies his wife had loved.
His heart was a blizzard of emotion. But this time he didn't want to run from it. Things were different. Rosa was different.
They both admitted they liked each other. But that wasn’t enough. Last night she said she couldn’t do this–that the two of them couldn’t work. But he knew better than anyone that feelings could change. Maybe there was still a chance for them. They could help each other move forward.
Still, as he worked at the boot shop all morning, not feeling connected to her was driving him crazy. As she left Tate’s house, all energy deflated out of Hunter, leaving him hollow. After he had gone back inside, Emily asked where Miss Flores had gone. Hunter had a sort of valid excuse. “Oh, she’s working on the holiday play. Do you want to be in it?”
“Yes, yes, yes, please!”
Emily’s excitement had helped ward off his disappointment. Still, he supposed it was better to know now that Rosa had known Megan, that Megan had known Rosa. It was all too surreal.
He had taken Emily home, put her to bed, then sketched out plans for the set piece for the school play, because he didn’t know what else to do with himself.
Today, he itched to do something. Anything to shake off his depressive state. So, he did what any mountain man would do. He headed to the hardware store during his lunch break to pick up lumber for a project to impress the girl. Now, with the plans in his hands, staring at the piles of lumber, he wondered if he was going overboard. Maybe he should talk to Rosa first.
“You okay there, Hunter?” Al, the owner of the hardware store, asked.
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. “You ever get in too deep only to realize your plans aren’t going to work?”
Al clapped him on the back. “All the time. So, are we talking about building, or something else completely?”
Hunter narrowed his eyes at the man and shrugged his shoulders. “Building. Er, both .”
He finally left the hardware store without buying anything. He really needed to talk to Rosa, though he wasn’t sure the best time . He’d need to get into the school and take measurements, plus clear the plans with her. Of course he’d donate the materials and labor–anything for Emily.
Back at the shop, he approached Tate, who was in the back searching for inventory. “Hey Tater. I really need to talk to Rosa, but after last night…”
Tate’s brows turned down. “Yeah, that was a shock. She’s going to need some time.”
Hunter put his hands on his hips and nodded. “Yeah. Totally.” He took a deep breath. Tate approached him and clapped him on the back.
“She’ll come around. Just give her space.”
“I don’t know. What if she changes her mind and doesn’t need me?”
Tate shrugged. “It’s possible. But to be honest, I think you both need each other.”
Their talk was encouraging. And of course, Tate was right. Hunter couldn’t deny how much his heart swelled when he was with her. He just hoped that was enough for Rosa, too.
Around 2:45 p.m., his phone rang. “Hello, Mr. Parks. It’s Taylor from the school. I understand you’re helping with the third grade holiday play?”
His heart leapt. “Uh, yes, absolutely.” Was this good news? Or was this a cancelation call?
“Miss Flores was wondering if you could meet her today after school. Emily can hang out with me at the front desk. And bring a tape measure.”
“Of course I’ll be there.” Hunter ended the call and smiled. A tiny bit of hope. Rosa still wanted his help. Even if nothing else.
With an added skip in his step, Hunter flew through the boring but essential part of work—inventory—while thinking about Rosa. He whistled in the back room as he counted and organized.
Tate wandered in and studied him. “This is different. Wait a minute. Did someone finally buy the puffy jacket with ducks on it?”
Hunter stopped whistling and raised an eyebrow. “No, why? Can’t I be happy?”
“Uh, doing inventory? Never. You hate inventory.” Tate walked around him, watching Hunter closely. “And you’ve been grumpy since last night. Understandably grumpy. Last night was pretty bad.”
Hunter started humming.
“Wait a second.” Tate held up a finger. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
“What?” Hunter dropped his hands in exasperation.
“She called. Wow. Guess you didn’t have to wait very long after all.”
Hunter moved away and focused on the boxes in front of him. “She did not.” He peered at Tate who was staring at him.
“The school called,” Tate guessed.
Hunter grunted. “Yes, okay? Miss Flores requests my presence. For set building purposes only.”
Tate narrowed his eyes and stuck out his lips. “Uh huh.”
Hunter elbowed him. “Ahh knock it off. You know how last night went. I’m not hopeful that anything except school related stuff is going to happen between the two of us.”
Tate backed away and raised his hands. “Then why the whistling and humming, is all I’m saying.”
Hunter rolled his eyes. Okay, so his friend had a point. “Look, last night didn’t turn out like I planned. But who knows? I think she’s worth the risk.”
Tate clapped him on the back. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Hunter nodded. “I know.”
Tuesday December 4, 3:32 p.m.
Hunter crossed the street to the school and headed inside. He gave Emily a hug and said hello to Taylor, then headed down the hall past the gym and towards the classrooms. Mr. Straus waved as he passed the fourth grade room.
His heart beat faster with every footstep towards the third grade door . Again, it was propped open. As he knocked, Hunter poked his head in.
“Hello? Ro—” He cleared his throat. “Miss Flores?” He wasn’t sure how she’d be after yesterday, so a professional approach was probably best.
“Yes, come in.”
She sat at the teacher’s desk, looking down at some papers. He approached slowly, swallowing his nervousness.
“Just finishing up something. Go ahead and have a seat.”
She still hadn’t looked up at him. Was she still upset, or overly guarded like he had been at first? Hunter had no idea how to navigate relationships at this stage in life. He had been high school sweethearts with Megan. Everything seemed more natural then. Less complicated.
When she died, he never thought he’d even think about another woman that way again. And he hadn’t, until now. Which was why he’d wait. And hope. He’d follow Rosa’s lead–see where her emotions were.
She closed a folder and sighed. “Okay. Done. Ready to head to the gym? I want to make sure what you’re thinking and what I’m thinking are semi-close.”
He nodded, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Rosa was talking about the set piece, but there was a big parallel to romantic feelings.
She led the way, like she had on the mountain, Hunter watching her as he followed. Well aware of the fact that Rosa still hadn’t looked him in the eye. She was avoiding him, in her own way.
They entered the gym and headed towards the back wall where the dark stage was framed in deep red curtains. “When I was in the play as a kid, we had someone hold up a door prop,” Rosa started. “But you said you had something bigger in mind?”
Hunter had ideas alright. Feelings. He wanted to hold her hand, pull her close. Make sure she was okay. Help her heal somehow. Revisit the almost kiss moment. But now wasn’t the time.
She stopped in front of the middle of the stage, putting her hands on her hips. He stopped a few feet behind her, not sure how close he dared get to her. On her wrist was the bracelet Emily had made her. Hunter looked down at the one on his wrist.
Hunter pulled the folded plans from his back pocket and passed them to her. “Here.”
Rosa finally met his gaze, her dark eyes brooding. Slowly, she reached for the paper and took it. Her eyes widened as she scanned the sheet. “Oh. Wow. Hunter, this is…” She waved the paper. “This is perfect.”
He smiled, heat rising up his neck. “Thanks.”
She smiled back. A jolt of nervous energy flowed through him. “So, what I was thinking.” He rushed up to the stage and hopped up, then motioned to stage right. “Over here could be where Emily starts, then the first house could be middle stage, here,” he moved as he spoke. “As the kids sing, I could be backstage, slowly moving the new house into place. That way, I’d only need to make a few houses, and they could just cycle through.”
Rosa stepped forward, her curvy figure on full display. Hunter wanted more than anything to jump down and give her a hug, tell her everything was okay. But he resisted.
“I think it’s genius, actually. You have a real talent for this kind of thing.”
“Thanks. I made a similar display for the front window of the shop one Christmas, only much smaller. And there were chimneys with Santas falling in.”
Rosa chuckled. She set down the plans on the stage, then went to place her hands on the top of the stage to lift herself up. She grunted while pushing, but she didn’t get enough leverage on the first try .
Hunter stepped towards the edge of the stage and held out his hand to help her up.
Rosa looked up at him, her eyes narrowing. “No, I got it.” She tried again, but her short stature combined and small biceps didn’t get her far. She sighed and shook her head in frustration.
Hunter cleared his throat. “Grab my hand. I got you.”
Rosa stared at him, her body stiff. “That’s what you said the first time we me t.” The corners of her mouth inched up as she glanced at his hand. “You’re trying to rescue me again, huh?”
Her playful words cleared the stiffness between them in an instant. She grabbed his hand, and he pulled her up, landing right in front of him. So very close. He could smell her shampoo. Lilacs and gardenias.
“I’m here,” he said. “ Whatever you need.” He’d rescue her, whatever it took.
Rosa didn’t let go of his hand. She bit her lip, searching his face. “I’m really sorry about yesterday.”
Breathless, Hunter replied, “Me, too.”
“I haven’t fully processed my cancer journey or my parents’ deaths .”
“Clearly,” Hunter said. “But how could you? Especially since they are so tied together.” Like his wife and Christmas. Like his wife and Emily. Like his wife and romantic love. “If it means anything, I don’t care that you knew my wife before. I actually thin k it’s nice that you two could help each other.”
Rosa looked down at their hands, then back up at his face.
“And your parents’ death is not your fault,” Hunter added.
Rosa’s brows furrowed, and she let go of his hand and took a step back. Maybe he shouldn’t have said that, but it was true.
Her eyes glistened with potential tears. “They’d still be alive if it wasn’t for me. They must have rushed to see me.” She cleared her throat. “The cause of the accident wasn’t conclusive but…” Rosa stopped and folded her arms, her face deflated.
Hunter’s heart aching for her pain. “They loved you, Rosa. Of course they’d come the minute you needed them. It’s not your fault. Accidents happen every day.” He wanted to wrap her up in his arms, to help ease her pain.
She wiped her eyes. “I appreciate you saying that, but I don’t want to talk about it right now.” Rosa took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Hunter rubbed at his beard. “Whatever you want, Rosa. But just know I’m here if you ever do want to talk about it.”
Rosa pressed her lips together, her gaze dropping to the stage floor. “I know you’re trying to help, but it’s not something I can let go of that easily. I’m trying, really I am. But maybe I never will.”
Hunter nodded, his chest tightening at her words. “I get it. Healing takes time.”
She took a slow, shaky breath and lifted her head, meeting his eyes again. “And that’s just it. I don’t know how much of me is left for anything else right now. For anyone else.”
Her words hit him like a dull ache. He resisted the urge to reach for her hand again, knowing she needed space to work through her feelings. “I understand,” he said softly.
Rosa wandered across the stage, putting more space between them. She glanced back at him, her expression softening. “You’re sweet, you know. And bold at the same time.”
Hunter half-smiled, shoving his hands into his pockets. “What can I say? I’m a regular heartthrob. Risking life and limb for daring rescues.”
She chuckled, a small break in the tension. “Yeah, well, you can’t rescue me from this. This isn’t a good time for me to start anything. However casual or serious.”
He met her gaze, his heart sinking but understanding. “Then let’s just be. No pressure. Just two people working on a play. For Emily.”
Her lips curved into a faint smirk as she leaned against the edge of the stage. “That’s going to be hard, though. You’re kind of irresistible. The whole mountain man vibe is kinda my thing.”
Hunter laughed, the tension easing between them. “If you can stop flirting so much, we can just stick to death-and-grief pep talks.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “What a pair we make.”
That’s what Hunter was thinking, though maybe in a different way than she was. He settled his hands into his back pockets, feeling the tape measure and a small pencil he had brought.
“Oh. I should take some measurements while I’m here.” He grabbed his sketch from the edge of the stage, then pulled out the measuring tape. “Can you hold that end over there?” He pointed to stage right.
Rosa nodded and the two worked together until Hunter had written down all the measurements he needed.
“So when is the performance?”
Rosa sighed. “Last day before holiday break. Two and a half weeks? It’ll be my final day of subbing. A great way to end my time here,” she said. “At the school.”
They both hopped off the stage. “Will you stay in Leavenworth through Christmas, then?” Hunter asked as they walked across the gym.
“Maybe. My Aunt Lucia and some cousins are in Yakima, so I know she’ll try to get me to visit.”
Hunter nodded. Two and a half weeks, huh? Maybe he could convince her to stay.