Lib Novel Page 41
“I thought it was the other way around,” she told him.
He smiled a secret smile and hugged her a little closer as the truck turned the first corner of its little tour of the town, and Cora let herself imagine, just for the length of the ride, that this was how things would always be.
15
JARED
Afew days later, Jared stood on the edge of the woods behind Timber Run, watching the water gurgle over the smooth stones in the creek, and catching his breath.
He’d been hiking in the snowy woods all day, but his body was still coiled with a restless energy that he couldn’t seem to burn off with exercise and fresh air. Deep down, he knew that instead of searching the woods for answers he should be searching his heart.
Spending the day with Cora and Sylvester at the Hometown Holiday celebration had been magical. He had loved every moment of being by Cora’s side. And seeing Sylvester experience the joy of the event brought back his own treasured memories of childhood wonder. The two of them had found something in him he had never known was lost.
Being with them felt right.
And he liked the way people looked at them together—first with surprise, and then with smiles that felt a little like his own happiness was being echoed back to him.
Jared had never thought of himself as a family man, but maybe he was wrong…
“You done tramping around in the woods?” his dad’s voice carried to him through the frosty air.
“Hey, Dad,” he said, striding forward.
“I heard you had a good time in town over the weekend,” Dad said, smiling.
“I did,” Jared told him, stopping awkwardly before the next thought came bounding out of his mouth.
The woods were quiet for a moment, with only the sound of the water and the faraway cry of a dove to fill the space between the two men.
“It’s easier to think out here,” Dad said after a moment, moving to stand beside Jared so he could gaze into creek with him. “Easier to talk too, for me, at least.”
Suddenly Jared was back standing by another wooded part of the creek, beside a different man.
“I know you and your grandpa shared a bond that was very special,” Dad went on, as if he had read Jared’s mind. “I’m not trying to intrude on that. I just want you to know I’m here.”
“I’ve always known that, Dad,” Jared said, turning to him. “Grandpa Henry’s not the only one I ever came to for advice.”
“You’re a good boy,” Dad said, smiling. “It made me happy whenever you spent time with your grandpa. I wish he could be here for you still.”
“Me too,” Jared said, his eyes skating back to the creek as he tried not to think about sitting around the fishing hole with Grandpa Henry.
“If you want my advice though, it’s freely given,” Dad offered.
“Of course,” Jared said. “I mean, I’m sure you and the rest of the world has guessed what’s going on with Cora Davies and me.”
“You have feelings for her,” Dad said.
“I do,” Jared said, realizing immediately how good it felt to hear the words spoken out loud. “I have feelings for her, but I’m not sure how she feels about me. I think I’ve managed to get her past the terrible first impression I made, but she probably still thinks I’m impulsive and no good for her son. And then there’s the fact that I think she still loves her husband.”
“She’ll always love him,” Dad said quietly. “If that makes you feel uncomfortable…”
“It doesn’t,” Jared told him. “Of course not. He was her husband and he’s Sylvester’s father. It’s only that I’m afraid she won’t want anyone else in her life. Especially not me.”
“Why not you?” Dad asked.
“From what I can tell, I’m really different from him,” Jared said. It was funny how the thought lost a fraction of its power when he said it out loud. “He was quiet, thoughtful, steady.”
“You’re definitely not quiet,” Dad chuckled. “But what makes you think you’re not thoughtful or steady?”