Chapter 11 Nora
NORA
Nora sat in the passenger seat of River’s truck an hour later, her eyes on the snowy fields outside as she tried to pull herself together.
River’s mom had been perfectly kind and polite. But of course Nora knew Mrs. Young well enough to know what that tight smile really masked. And she hadn’t even stayed to meet the kids.
It’s not her job to meet the kids, Nora reminded herself. Her other son didn’t want them to be part of his family. She’s just being loyal to him.
But it hurt anyway. She was so proud of Pixie and John-John. And she felt that rejection on their behalf.
Luckily, they seemed to have been too busy enjoying themselves to notice that the lady with the big bag of eggs didn’t want to eat pancakes with them.
And now they were heading off to do one of Farmer Bear’s activities. She smiled to herself at the idea that River was going to cut down a tree today just to make the kids happy.
He was such a kind soul, and he seemed to take a lot of pleasure from small, everyday things. He was like a big kid himself sometimes. But that wasn’t really right, because the man was also so protective.
Looking back now at everything that had happened since he first appeared at her door, she had come to the conclusion that he just might be the best, most big-hearted man in the world.
“Is that it?” Pixie called out, pointing to a field with a few horses in it.
“Not yet,” River told her. “But we’re almost there. And they do have horses at Cassidy Farm.”
“Am I going to ride them?” Pixie asked excitedly.
“Probably not today,” Nora told her. “Only because we’re going to go hunting for a Christmas tree, and then River’s going to cut it down so we can bring it back to the farmhouse. All that will keep us pretty busy.”
“Just like Farmer Bear,” John-John sang out.
“We’ll come back soon to see the animals and play on the playground,” River added.
“There’s a playground?” Pixie asked.
“Cassidy Farm is a super fun place to spend a day,” River told her. “The one thing we will make sure to do today is get some apple cider.”
“Can you have a playground on your farm?” Pixie asked.
“I never thought about it,” River said. “But I don’t see why not. There’s plenty of room. Now what kind of tree are you two hoping to find today?”
The kids burst into a lively discussion about tree shapes and sizes and exactly how many shades of green they came in, and Nora found herself glancing over at River.
He was such a picture of masculinity, his wide shoulders straining the seams of another of his lined flannels, squinting slightly in the late morning sun. And the closed cabin of the truck only made the spicy woodsmoke scent of him all the more maddening.
He caught her looking and winked at her, and she felt her cheeks heat.
“What kind of tree are you hoping for, Nora?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I just love the smell, so any tree will do.”
“Then we should look at the balsams,” he said, nodding. “They have the best scent. Do you want one that’s tall and skinny? Short and fat?”
“Up to the ceiling,” she said with a smile. “And as wide as you think will fit.”
“A girl after my own heart,” he chuckled.
“But we’ll let the kids pick, of course,” she said. “And if they’re expensive, we’ll want to stick to a budget.”
She pressed her lips together, feeling ashamed that she had to talk about money when he was housing and feeding them right now. But they were only doing this for the kids, so she knew that her paying for the tree was the right thing.
“It’s not expensive,” he told her. “And it’s my treat. I needed a tree for the farmhouse anyway.”
“You didn’t really have to get one though,” she said softly. “And I’m sure you wouldn’t be tromping off in the snow to cut one.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” he told her. “Besides, I’m a farmer. I think tromping around in the snow is a main part of the job.”
That made her laugh, and he flicked his gaze over at her for a moment, his eyes crinkling as he smiled.
This is exactly what I needed, she thought to herself without meaning to.
But she stopped herself there, before she could start to fantasize that this was their everyday life—doing fun things with the kids, and finding ways to make each other’s lives just a little bit better.
“Here we are,” he said a few minutes later as they spotted a big wooden sign with a horse and apple and other things painted on it, proclaiming that they had arrived at Cassidy Farm.
“Yay,” Pixie called out, and John-John cheered too.
River pulled the truck up a gravel driveway lined with enormous sycamores. Though their branches were bare of leaves, their brown and white mottled bark was beautiful. Nora couldn’t imagine how lush it would be here in the summertime.
There were plenty of cars in the parking lot, and a school bus too. River went all the way to the top of the hill, where the lot was more open, and parked the truck.
“The trees for cutting are up here,” River explained.
They all piled out of the truck and headed up to the handpainted sign that said Cut Your Own Christmas Tree.
An older couple was already waiting with a blonde-haired girl who Nora thought might be their granddaughter.
“I see we aren’t the only ones who thought today was the perfect day to get a tree,” the man called out cheerfully.
John-John clutched Nora’s hand, and her heart squeezed a little. The little boy had been having such good days here in Trinity Falls, but maybe that was because he felt safe and steady at River’s place. A new place with new people could be a challenge.
“Mr. and Mrs. Williams,” River said, jogging up to shake the man’s hand.
“Good to see you, son,” Mr. Williams said fondly. “This is our granddaughter, Josie. She and her father are back to live in Trinity Falls.”
“Brad is home?” River asked, looking amazed. “I thought he was a big-city architect.”
“This place has a way of pulling folks back, doesn’t it?” Mrs. Williams put in with a twinkly-eyed smile. “And is this your family?”
For a moment, Nora thought her heart would stop beating, and she felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment.
“This is my old friend, Nora,” he said. “And her niece and nephew, Pixie and John-John.”
“Very nice to meet you all,” Mr. Williams said.
Mrs. Williams frowned thoughtfully for a moment and then smiled at them all.
She’s probably making the connection that his brother was married to a woman called Nora…
But as far as Nora could tell, there wasn’t a trace of judgement on the sweet lady’s face.
Before they could make any more small talk, their attention was grabbed by the loud sound of an engine, and the shiver of gravel as some big tires moved up the parking lot toward them.
She looked over to see a big truck pulling an open bed full of hay, with safety rails all around it.
“Who’s ready to go find the perfect Christmas tree?” the driver called out.
He was a young man in a big cowboy hat, and the smile on his face told Nora that he loved his job. He also looked a little familiar.
“Jacob Cassidy,” River called out.
“Hey, River,” Jacob replied. “You back for good?”
“Sure am,” River replied. “Great to see you.”
Jacob’s eyes slid over to Nora and the kids, then back to her again, his eyebrows lifting slightly.
He knows too…
To his credit, the cowboy didn’t say a word about it—he just hopped out and began leading everyone around to climb into the back.
“Here you are, ma’am,” he said to Mrs. Williams, helping her up.
She sat in the corner, and Josie joined her, followed by Mr. Williams.
River lifted Pixie in. Pixie was beaming, and Nora figured she had probably never been on a hayride before.
River hopped in next, and then turned back for John-John.
But when Nora went to lift him up, John-John resisted a little.
She stopped trying to lift him right away, and crouched down to see what he was worried about it.
“What’s this?” he asked, his eyes wide.
“This is a hayride,” she told him. “It’s really fun. We’ll all go for a ride together to find a good tree. And then the tree will ride back to the car with us.”
“Okay,” John-John allowed.
She straightened, and this time John-John held his arms up to her so she could lift him easily.
The four of them settled in with their backs against the cab of the truck, the two kids snuggled in between the adults.
Once everyone was seated, Jacob disappeared, and a moment later the truck rumbled back to life.
“Oh,” John-John said, squeezing Nora’s knee.
“You’re okay,” she told him. “We’re just going to find our tree.”
The truck jerked forward and began to move slowly over the gravel drive.
“Look at the kids going to the farm,” Nora pointed out quietly as they passed families heading toward what looked like a barn shop, some with strollers and wheelchairs, and most with big reusable shopping bags.
“They’re happy,” John-John murmured plaintively.
“And none of them get to pick out a tree and cut it down,” Nora reminded him. “We’re having such a special day.”
She could feel his little hand relax on her knee. He leaned against her as the truck moved on, and she glanced over to see how Pixie was doing.
The brave little girl looked positively thrilled to be on a hayride.
“Up there is the nursery with the cut trees,” River said, pointing. “And the playground and the animal pens and pastures are that way.”
Pixie nodded, her eyes following everything he showed her.
They really get along well, Nora couldn’t help thinking.
As tiny as she was for her age, Pixie was tough and curious. Her enthusiasm for everything out here matched River’s. Nora had a feeling that she would be a great farm kid.
At least for the holidays she will, she told herself.
The truck bumped a bit more as they headed uphill, past a sign announcing that they were entering private property.
John-John leaned his head against Nora’s shoulder.
“That’s where Joe and Alice Cassidy live,” River told them. “They own the whole farm, and they run it with a bunch of their kids.”
“Wow,” Pixie said. “Kids run this farm?”