I glanced out the window and over at my car and then looked back at Noah.“You sure you don’t mind?”I asked.
He shook his head.“No, I don’t mind.Why don’t you come sit for a bit, have a coffee and some cake.We will get going shortly.”
“We really should?—”
“Yay!Coffee and cake!”Sarah shouted, running on over to the table where everyone was sitting.
“Come on,” he urged.
I smiled softly as he gently guided us over to the table where Trinity immediately made room for us both to sit down, and Brooke grabbed a mug full of coffee and placed it down in front of me while grabbing a hot cider for Sarah.
I hadn’t planned on being so late, but conversation with good friends goes that way.It was almost midnight when Noah pulled into the driveway and drove down to the house, where he stopped his truck.
“Thanks,” I said, looking over at him.
“My pleasure.Looks like the little lady is sound asleep.”
I glanced over my shoulder into the backseat to see Sarah lying across the backseat, asleep.
“Didn’t she tell us she wasn’t tired when we left?”I giggled.
“She did.Did you want some help to get her inside?”
I let out a sigh.Sarah was very close to my full height for being twelve, and I knew there was no way I’d be able to pick her up.
“Do you mind?”I questioned.
Noah shook his head and cut the engine of his truck, then climbed out of the front seat while I gathered my things and dug for my keys.He followed me up the front steps, Sarah in his arms while I opened the door.
I shut the door behind him and led the way down to Sarah’s room, where he placed her down on the bed.
“Give me a couple of minutes,” I said gently, removing her coat.
Once I’d gotten her coat and hat off, I covered her up and then made my way into the living room, where I found Noah standing looking around the room.
“You still have the stand?”
“Sure do.Still working the trees too.”
“I know; I got a flyer.It was nice to see your dad actually made this work.How are your parents?”
“Mom passed away four years ago, and Dad sadly went just before Christmas the year before last.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
“I know.What about yours?”
“Mom passed a few years back, and Dad is out at that retirement community.He has dementia.The last time I was out there he didn’t remember me.”
“Oh, Noah, I’m sorry to hear that.”
Noah nodded, looking around the house.“It still looks the same,” he said as I stood beside him.
“What does?”
“This house, your old room,” he said, turning to face me.“It brings back all these memories.”
“I know.Not much changes around here.”I smiled.
