Chapter 32 Nico
NICO
Ihaven’t been to a “family dinner” since before Georgie died. Shay has invited me almost weekly since she started dating Noelle, but I didn’t think I could face it. Granted, I never thought about it for more than a minute before declining because it was easier not to think about it.
Este accepted Noelle’s mom, Kate’s, invitation when she dropped the dogs off the other day without asking me first. Which is exactly the push I needed to show up. If she’d given me the chance to say no, I’m not sure I would’ve said yes.
It’s warm enough that everyone is hanging out in the back yard, and Este’s dads and Sloane are already here when we walk in holding hands.
I know Chris offered to drive us all, Este didn’t hide the text when it came through, but she declined without a second thought because she knows I’m not there yet.
I’m still getting used to her driving me, and family dinner is already stressful.
So, we walked. It was only ten minutes, and the boys needed to be walked anyway—Kate didn’t say the invitation was only valid if we brought her new best friends with us, but it was heavily implied.
We say hello and stop by Chris, who is alone, frowning at a life-size Grinch standing on the back porch.
“Hey, Pops.”
“Hey, kiddo. Look at this thing. Kind of sinister, right?” he says, nodding to the figure as if we hadn’t noticed it. It’s almost as tall as I am.
Grey’s ears are pinned back as he eyes it, but Earl doesn’t give a shit. He ignores it completely, forcing his way past Este to demand attention from Chris.
I can’t believe I just assumed my dogs didn’t like people because I’m so antisocial that they were never around them.
“It’s a little weird, but I wouldn’t say sinister,” Este replies, prodding the Grinch and recoiling at whatever texture she encounters.
Chris shrugs. “Hmm. Hey, do you know who the redhead is that’s talking to Noelle?”
“Nope. Do you?” Este asks me, and I follow their gaze.
“That’s Quinn’s sister. Abigail, I think.” I met her briefly at Shay and Noelle’s bakery opening, but I met a lot of people that day, and I’m not the best with names.
“That’s who your dad and I saw buying the pregnancy test at the grocery store,” Chris says, and Este’s eyes widen.
“Damn. I hope she’s okay. Do not tell Sloane. You know what she’s like—she’ll end up saying something.”
“My lips are sealed,” Chris says. “How are you feeling, Nico?”
It takes me a second to realize he’s addressing me directly.
I know Chris has never been my biggest fan.
He and Bryan started dating just before Georgie died, and I only met him once before I ran away to Wintermore.
It was clear he never understood why Bryan kept trying with me, and I can tell he’s less open to the idea of me and Este than Bryan is.
But Este said they talked at breakfast and that he wants to try.
“Good, thanks. A lot better than I was.”
“Glad to hear it.”
It’s the most we’ve spoken, possibly ever, and the silence that follows is awkward as hell.
Este chuckles and tugs me down the porch steps. “Come on. Let’s go and be sociable.”
“There has got to be something in the water in this town,” Sloane says, pointing her fork between Rora and Henry. “How many years between you?”
“Nineteen,” Rora says.
“And there’s sixteen between you,” Sloane says, nodding to Shay and Noelle. “Twenty-one between you two.” Me and Este. I like being an “us two” with her. “Wintermore: the town of Christmas and age gaps, apparently. What about you two?”
Felix and Abigail exchange a slightly bewildered look. “Ten years,” Felix says slowly. “But we’re not together.”
“Huh. I could’ve sworn there was a vibe. Anyway, ten years is nothing.”
“Ten years is not nothing,” Quinn interjects, frowning at Sloane. They’re sitting directly across from each other, and she smirks in response.
“You would say that, Quinny.”
“Quinny?” I mouth to Este, but she looks equally confused.
“No idea. I’m definitely missing something.”
“They were like this the whole trip to your cabin to get your stuff. I felt like I was third wheeling,” Henry says quietly, leaning across the table so we can hear him.
He’s holding Sunny, and she reaches out and grabs for Este, whose face lights up.
“You want to hold her?” Henry asks, passing her over when Este nods.
“Hi, Sunny,” she murmurs, gently tapping the baby’s nose. Sunny giggles. It’s cute.
I like kids—a miracle considering how many were always running around when I was younger, thanks to my mom’s home daycare—but I was never particularly inclined toward parenthood, even before Georgie died.
Some people are meant to be parents, and Rora is one of those people.
I know her better than most people, since her parents own the cabin near mine, and I would never have guessed until I saw her with a baby how much it would suit her.
“When are you due?” Este asks as Sunny plays with the wooden bear around her neck. I should really make something for her and the new baby.
“Early October, but she’s already measuring ahead like Sunny did, and I had to be induced a few weeks early with her since she was so big and I’m me.”
“It’s sweet that they’ll be so close together age-wise,” Este says—Sunny isn’t even one yet. “Are you excited to be a big sister?” she asks, and Sunny babbles in response. “Being a big sister is my favorite thing in the whole world. You get a built-in best friend!”
Sunny smiles up at Este, before catching sight of me over beside her and blinking. “Sasa,” she babbles, and Rora groans.
“No, sweet girl. Not everyone with a beard is Santa. Sorry,” she tells me. “This is an ongoing issue. That’s Nico, baby. Nee-koh,” she sounds out.
“Sasa,” Sunny repeats.
Rora sighs. “We’re working on it.”
“I’ve been called worse,” I say with a laugh. Sunny tries to grab my beard, but I offer her a finger instead, and she holds on tightly.
“Good luck getting that back. She has quite the grip. So, Este. You’re a pilot.”
Este stiffens ever so slightly, but she nods. The second she got confirmation that she was no longer a Skylark employee, I saw the weight of the world lift from her shoulders. She hasn’t had any flying-related nightmares since, but I’ve seen her staring up at the sky a few times, almost wistfully.
“I’m not working right now, but yeah, I am.”
“I was telling someone I work with about you,” Rora says.
“There’s a resort up on the mountain—Blue Moon Meadows—and I photograph weddings there sometimes.
They offer plane rides over the mountains.
Their pilot, Ari, is on the hunt for another pilot ahead of the busy season this Christmas.
I guess they’re struggling to keep up with demand since it’s just them at the moment, and there aren’t a lot of trained pilots in the area.
I know you’re not flying just now, but I can pass your number on if that changes. Just let me know.”
If Sunny wasn’t holding my only free hand like a tiny vise, I’d rub Este’s back. Instead, I watch the tension ripple up her spine and press my leg against hers under the table.
She takes a deep breath. “Thank you for thinking of me. I’ll definitely let you know.”
I don’t know what’s going on inside her beautiful mind, but she didn’t knock the idea back right away, and I know that’s an improvement on where she was a few weeks ago.
A moment later, Sunny starts fussing. She goes from zero to a hundred in the three seconds it takes Este to pass her back to Henry. He cuddles her to his chest, and he and Rora head upstairs with two words: “Nap time.”
“Are you okay?” I ask Este, squeezing her knee under the table as she drains her water glass. Her hand is shaking slightly.
“I’m fine. I mean, she’s so cute, but it’s nice to be able to hand them back when they cry, you know?”
“I do, but that’s not what I meant,” I answer with a laugh. Este places her hand over mine on top of her knee, and even though dinner is going well, a big part of me just wants to whisk her away home. Well, home for now. “I was talking about what Rora suggested.”
“Oh, that. I wasn’t expecting it, but I’ll think about it.”
And that’s not what I was expecting. “Yeah?”
She nods, her chocolate eyes reflecting the twinkly gold Christmas lights dotted all over the room.
While I can’t get behind Christmas the way most of Wintermore does it, I love the way the lights turn her eyes into little constellations, and I will be hanging them in the cabin year-round when we get back.
Or when I get back. We still haven’t talked about Este’s plans.
“I’m not ruling anything out. I do want to fly again, and a small plane is probably exactly what I need. I just need to push myself to actually do it.”
If we weren’t sitting at a table with her dads, I’d kiss the hell out of her right now. I settle for squeezing her knee. “Proud of you, angel.”
The dogs, who ditched us for Kate the second they realized she was nearby, come sniffing around, and I recognize Earl’s “let us outside” whine. I don’t expect Este to recognize it, but I should know better at this point.
“You want to go outside, sweet boy?” She starts to get up, but I stop.
“I’ve got them. Need to stretch my legs anyway.” The backyard is fenced off, so I don’t need to leash the boys. Not that I think they’d ever run off; leashing them in town is just polite.
I kiss Este, chastely, on the head before taking them out, and they immediately run several laps around the yard. Like me, they’re not used to being cooped up.
“Thought I saw you sneaking out here.” Shay sits beside me on the porch steps, laughing as Grey spots her and growls. “Damn. What did I do to make them hate me?”
“Not a clue. I assumed they just hated everyone.”
“Oh, well. I’m more of a cat person anyway. How’s your arm doing?”
“Better. I can move it a little without it hurting too much,” I tell her, showing her the tiny shrug I’ve been practicing.
“That’s progress. When do you start physiotherapy?”
“Tomorrow. I have an appointment to get my dressings changed, too.” The Wintermore hospital, despite its size, is efficient.
Do I wish I didn’t have to visit several times a week for the next couple of months?
Sure, but they saved my life, so I’m not going to complain.
Especially not if it helps me get back to full strength faster.
I can’t work with one hand, and though my clients have all been understanding and are happy to wait, I’m already itching to get back to work.
“Let me know how you get on?” Shay asks, almost shyly.
“Of course. My appointment is in the morning, so maybe Este and I could drop by the bakery after for lunch.”
Shay smiles, but her eyes betray her surprise.
“That would be really nice. I wanted to check something with you. Noelle and I have a trip planned next weekend, just a couple of days in New York to see a show she’s been talking about.
You seem like you have things pretty under control, but if you need me to stay—”
“Go, Shay. Seriously. You deserve some downtime, and I’m all good, I promise. I have Este, and if something did happen, there’s a whole house full of people in there we could call.”
She narrows her eyes. “And would you? Call them?”
I consider lying and just saying a simple “yes,” but Shay knows me too well to not see through that. “If Este told me to, I would.”
“I’ll take it,” she says with a chuckle. “I’m glad you came tonight. I know this is your idea of hell, but it means a lot to have you here.”
“I’ve had a good time, actually.” No one is more surprised than me that I mean it. I may be a little “peopled out,” as Este puts it, but I see why Shay feels so at home with Noelle’s family. I think I could feel at home here, too. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come.”
“You’re here now. That’s what matters.” I’m not sure how I got so lucky to have people as understanding as Shay and Bryan, but I haven’t appreciated their patience enough over the years. “And you and me… are we okay?” Shay asks.
“Of course. What do you mean?”
She toys with the sleeve of her shirt. “I know I haven’t been as supportive of you and Este as you were of me and Noelle.”
“You were looking out for Este, Shay. I’m not upset about it.”
She blows out a breath. “Good. It’s just… I’m scared, Nico. I’m scared that your arm is going to heal and you’re going to disappear back up the mountain and things will go back to how they were.”
“That’s not going to happen,” I promise.
“Look, I don’t know exactly what life is going to look like when my arm heals.
Este and I haven’t talked about everything yet.
But I do know I’m going to be coming down to Wintermore regularly regardless, because Noelle told me I’m helping with her old bakery renovation. ”
“She told you, or she asked you?”
“Told. And, full disclosure, she scares me a little, so I didn’t question it.”
Shay laughs, her eyes glimmering. “She is kind of terrifying, right? But I’m glad. I’ve been too scared to ask you.”
“I’ve been too scared to offer.” What a pair we make.
“Trust Noelle to see through us both. Thank you, Nico. I know none of this is easy for you, but I’m really happy we’re doing this.”
“Me too,” I say, and I actually mean it. “So, talk to me about your trip.”
Shay lights up. “We have a private room booked at a restaurant we’ve both wanted to go to forever, and I’m finally going to propose.”
“That’s amazing.” God, I hope my face doesn’t give away that I already knew about the dinner they have planned. Because Noelle already told me she was planning to propose there. “Happy for you, Shay. Can I see the ring?”