Chapter 21 Nora
NORA
Nora sat in the study for a few minutes after Edward returned to the living room, pulling herself and her thoughts together before going back out to face the kids.
Technically, she knew she needed to arrange a cab to take them back to River’s place for their things, and then back out to the city.
But maybe it would be better if Mr. and Mrs. Young could stay with the children for a bit so that she could run over to the farmhouse alone to get their stuff, and avoid having the kids bump into River.
The hard part was coming up with a way to explain why they were leaving in such a hurry.
She didn’t like to lie to the children, but she was thinking that maybe she really ought to just tell them River wasn’t feeling well.
If they thought he was sick, there was no chance they could take it personally that he wasn’t going to spend tomorrow with them.
And he honestly did seem like he was feeling pretty miserable when he talked with his mom, even if it wasn’t physical.
“Nora,” Edward called suddenly from the hallway. “Come out here.”
Taking a deep breath and reminding herself that she could handle easing the children through all this, she slipped out of the office and down the hallway to the living room.
Edward, his parents, and the kids were all sitting by the Christmas tree.
And to her surprise, River was standing by the fireplace, his hair tousled from the wind and color in his cheeks like he had been running.
“River,” she said, unable to think of any other words for a moment.
“There are some things I need to say,” he said, his voice rough.
He was going to try to explain himself. That was better than just disappearing, she supposed, but it wasn’t necessary.
“It’s okay,” she told him right away. “I understand. You don’t have to say a word.”
“No,” he said firmly. “I don’t think you do understand.”
She glanced over at the kids, who were gazing up at River like he hung the stars.
She sighed and turned back to River and met his gaze.
Please don’t reject all of us like this, she begged him with her eyes.
“Should we talk privately?” she asked him.
“Yes,” he told her. “But there are some things the whole family needs to hear first.”
She nodded, steeling herself for the worst. If he was determined to do this in front of everyone, there wasn’t a whole lot she could do about it.
“I had a valuable conversation with Mom today,” River said, his dark eyes landing on his mother. “It really opened my eyes to how my actions might look. Not just lately, but for a long time now. And I appreciate that, because I know I haven’t ever seemed like the steadiest member of this family.”
Nora’s eyes darted over to Edward, who was smiling fondly at his brother.
“But believe it or not, there were reasons for all the things I’ve done,” River went on. “What was my favorite subject in school?”
“Math,” his mother answered. “And Science.”
His father nodded thoughtfully.
“Trick question,” Edward said. “Your favorite part of school was 4-H Club.”
“Correct,” River said, pointing to his brother. “That was the activity I loved and never quit.”
His dad nodded again, a little smile pulling up the corner of his mouth this time.
“I didn’t want to go to college at all,” River went on.
“But I did anyway, because you two thought it was important to give me that opportunity, and I didn’t want to let you down.
But when my grades weren’t high enough after first semester, I knew I would lose my scholarship, and I didn’t want to get stuck with a bunch of loans for something I didn’t even really want in the first place. ”
Nora had to admit that was actually pretty responsible behavior for a teenager.
“We would have helped you,” his mother said. “You know that, River.”
“Exactly,” he agreed. “And I didn’t want that help. So I decided to help myself. I left and joined the Army, where I knew I could save my pay to buy a farm, as long as I lived like a pauper, and then got out and bought before land prices went up too much.”
Interesting…
“When did I join 4-H, Edward?” River asked his brother.
“When you were thirteen,” his brother supplied, pride in his eyes as he watched River make his case.
“So that’s how long I’ve known what I wanted to do, and how long I’ve been working toward it,” River said.
“I know it’s not the dream you had for me, and I didn’t go about it in the most obvious way.
But does it make you guys feel any better about the choices I’ve made to know there was nothing random or impulsive about them? ”
His mother moved to embrace him with tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured to him. “I’m glad you’re living your life on your own terms.”
He held her close and pressed his lips to the crown of her head, and Nora felt the bond they shared from across the room. Only real love could survive honesty and hard conversations, and that was exactly what she was witnessing.
When his mom let go of him, his dad wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
“I’m glad you’re doing what you want with your life, son,” he said gruffly as River squeezed him back. “You’ve never been a quitter, just a creative problem solver.”
Nora had to smile at that.
“I wanted you to hear that too, Nora,” River said, turning to her. “And the kids. When I commit to something, I commit, no matter what I have to do or how winding the path might be to get there. And I want to commit to you now. If it’s what you want.”
His eyes were filled with longing, and she felt a tug at her heart as if it were attached to his with a cord pulled taut between them.
Pixie was whispering something in John-John’s ear now, and Nora looked over at them, trying to figure out what was happening.
“Say yes, Aunt Nora,” Pixie whispered loudly, nodding her head up and down.
John-John smiled a big, happy smile at her, and she couldn’t help smiling back.
“I guess we can give it a try,” she heard herself telling River.
“Sorry, but that just won’t work for me,” he told her, his voice deep with emotion. “It’s got to be all or nothing. And I want it all.”
Before she knew what was happening, River was dropping to one knee and holding out a wooden box with a sparkling ring inside.
“Will you marry me, Nora?” he asked her. “And let the four of us be a family?”
She knew she should stop and think, weigh what was best for the kids and for herself, question what their lives would look like and every other facet of this major life decision.
But hadn’t that been exactly what she’d been doing all this time already?
And was it really so impulsive to go after the things in life you were sure you wanted?
She sobbed out a quick yes, not trusting herself to say anything more without completely breaking down.
Everyone burst into cheers as River slid the pretty little ring onto her finger and pulled her close, cupping her cheek in his big hand and tilting her face up to look at him.
If she’d been holding onto any doubts, the heat in his eyes would have melted them all away.
“I’m glad I’m not the only one letting their heart lead the way,” he murmured, his eyes sliding down to her lips for a second before he bent to kiss her.
The moment his mouth claimed hers, she felt radiant with joy and peace.
This is it. This is everything. We’re all going to be okay.
“I still don’t understand how you got a ring,” Edward said later, while they all sipped hot chocolate and watched the kids play with the wooden blocks that had been Edward and River’s when they were children. “It’s Christmas Eve.”
“Valerie owes me one,” River said, shrugging. “And she lives over the shop, so I thought she might open up for me.”
His dad chuckled and nodded, and Nora wondered what favor Valerie could possibly owe River for her to work on Christmas Eve.
“Anyway,” River went on. “When I got there, the shop was already lit up and I wasn’t the only one there. I guess with the storm, no one could pick up their Christmas gifts.”
“You were back so fast,” Nora said wonderingly. “I had no idea.”
“Well, as soon as I told Valerie I was looking for a ring, she already knew it was for you somehow,” he said with a crooked grin. “And she pulled out the one you’re wearing. She said I could look around, but that would be the one. She was right, of course.”
“That girl has a gift,” Mrs. Young said firmly.
“Well, I love it,” Nora said, gazing down at the delicate golden band with a pretty blue topaz flanked by tiny diamonds.
“The blue is so cheerful. It makes me think of your eyes,” River said, then cleared his throat.
She smiled up at him, knowing she looked like a lovesick fool and not even caring.
A hint of movement caught her attention and she looked up in time to see Edward leaving the room.
“Excuse me, just for a minute,” she told everyone.
Her stomach twisted, and she felt mortified. It was one thing for Edward to basically give his blessing and be happy for them. He had left her after all. But this all felt like maybe it was rubbing something in his face.
“Edward,” she called out softly, catching him in the hallway for the second time in a day.
He stopped and turned to her with a guilty expression on his face.
“Hey,” she said, suddenly wondering what she could possibly say next. “I know this is really weird. The kids and I can head back to River’s place, we don’t have to turn your Christmas Eve into—”
“It’s not that,” he said. “I just have to make a quick call.”
“Edward, we had such a good conversation earlier,” she said. “Let’s just be honest with each other.”
“I’m seeing someone,” he blurted out suddenly, his eyes widening as if even he were surprised by his words.
“Really?” she asked him, amazed.
“She seemed worried when I told her you would be here,” he admitted, looking down. “I figured she’d like to hear that you’re off the market.”
The joke was so weak, and the situation was so odd, that Nora found herself suddenly laughing.
“Oh, this is funny to you?” Edward asked her.
“Kind of,” she said, trying to stop giggling. “I mean it’s definitely unusual. Are you two a serious thing?”
Edward’s eyes met hers and he nodded slowly.
“I think so,” he said. “At least, I hope so.”
“Why isn’t she here?” Nora asked.
“Well, when I heard you were out here with the kids I didn’t want to…” he trailed off.
“Make things weird?” she offered.
“Yeah,” he said. “Something like that.”
“Get her out here,” she told him. “If she can, and if she wants to come. She should be here tomorrow.”
“That’s nice, Nora,” Edward said, smiling at her warmly. “Thank you.”
“Thank you,” she told him.
“I’m sorry, Nora,” he said softly. “For everything.”
The calendar quote that had her rolling her eyes the other day suddenly popped into her mind.
Everything happens for a reason.
“I guess maybe things do happen for a reason,” she said softly, and for a moment, she could hear Alma’s laughter in her mind.
“Aunt Nora, Aunt Nora,” Pixie called out happily. “Come back. You have to hear this.”
Edward smiled and nodded to her before continuing on to the study to make his call.
“Here I come, Pixie,” Nora called to her niece.
When she got back into the living room, John-John was perched on the sofa next to River. Pixie dashed over to join them, snuggling up to her brother.
“Happy Farm, Christmas Farm, Horse Poop Farm,” John-John yelled out, and then melted into helpless laughter.
“Hey, Nora,” River said, smiling up at her. “The kids are helping me with something.”
“He said we can name his farm,” Pixie said reverently. “That way, we’ll know it’s always our home.”
The expression on the little girl’s face told Nora everything she needed to know about whether this change was going to be good for the kids.
Tears burned in her eyes again and she fought them back desperately, not wanting the kids to be confused about how she felt.
“I said they can name our farm,” River confirmed, nodding, his dark eyes on Nora’s.
“Bear Haven,” John-John suddenly said with finality.
“Yes,” Pixie shouted.
“I like that a lot,” River said, nodding to the kids. “Great job. Bear Haven it is.”
“Thank you, River,” she told him over the lump in her throat. “That’s beautiful.”
“Everything is beautiful today,” he said, meeting her eyes.