“I like Doc Harlow.” He shrugged. “It was just scary thinking if you two ended up together there might not be room for me. Do you know what I mean?”
Nick placed his arm around Miles and pulled him close to his side. “Of course I do. For almost four years it’s been just the two of us getting used to life without your mom. The dynamic duo. I don’t know what’s going to happen between me and Harlow, but there’s no doubt in my mind about the two of us. You’re stuck with me, buddy. At least until your fortieth birthday.”
Miles let out a squeal. “I’ll be the crypt creeper. Ancient.”
Nick laughed so hard his sides hurt. Spending time with his son was life affirming. These moments were etched on his soul like permanent tattoos.
“I just don’t want Mom to ever be replaced,” Miles said. Worry emanated from his eyes.
“That could never and will never happen. We’ll never stop celebrating your mom’s life and what she’ll always mean to us.” He reached out his pinky finger so Miles could loop his own around Nick’s.
“Dad, I’m going to be late for the soccer party if we don’t get a move on.”
“Okay, let’s go. Just text me later for the pickup time.”
“Is it all right if I go over Jaden’s house afterward? He’s invited a few of us over.”
“That’s fine,” Nick said, running his hand over Miles’s ’fro. “Let me get my keys.”
After dropping off Miles, Nick’s thoughts turned to Harlow. Not seeing her over the weekend was a kick in the butt. He missed her. Seeing her mother was an important step for Harlow. She had a lot to process and no matter what her needs might be, he wanted to be present for her. Nick hoped that Harlow would seize the moments she had left with her mother and make the most of them, as difficult as it might be. Every moment they spent together would be part of a goodbye. He often wished he’d been able to say goodbye to Kara. Sometimes he wondered if he’d cherished their shared moments in real time. If he could go back in time, he would love her a little harder and let her know how much he valued her.
Nick knew from his own experiences that Harlow would need support on this journey, and he intended to be by her side every step of the way.
Since he had no Saturday plans, Nick got to work digging into the rumors about Harlow by talking to a few friends in town. A few of them had heard the gossip, which was disheartening, but no one could pinpoint exactly what Harlow was being accused of doing. The only names he’d heard as the rumor spreaders were Gillian and Patsy. He wasn’t the least bit surprised.
Based on the information he’d gathered, Nick figured he would start with the original source. Nick had known Gillian for most of his life. He was perplexed as to why she would start trouble with Harlow. It hadn’t been too long ago that she had been leaving messages on his answering machine about Luke. When his older brother retired as a SEAL and headed home to Mistletoe, the single ladies in town had lined up to date him. Gillian had been quite persistent until Stella and Luke had become a thing.
The florist’s shop sat on the corner of Main and Elm. A beautiful pink canopy framed the entrance to the shop, along with a pink-and-cream sign welcoming customers to Bloom’s. A ding heralded Nick’s entrance. Seconds later, Gillian appeared. “Nick. It’s good to see you. Welcome to Bloom’s.”
“Thanks. You’ve got a nice place here,” Nick noted. He hadn’t been inside in years. Back in the day, he’d ordered Kara flowers on a weekly basis, and for a long time, he’d avoided coming here due to the memories.
“I don’t want to waste your time.” He glanced around at the empty shop. “I’d like to talk to you before customers interrupt us.” Bloom’s was a very successful shop. It was only a matter of time before customers came through.
“Shoot. What’s going on? If this is a fundraiser for youth soccer, I’ve already made a sizable donation,” Gillian said with a smile.
“This isn’t about a fundraiser. It’s about the new vet in town, Harlow Jones, and the nasty rumors swirling around town about her.” Nick put on his most intimidating expression. This really sucked. He’d been in kindergarten with Gillian. But this was about Harlow’s reputation in Mistletoe. He was invested in her staying here. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about them would you?”
Gillian shifted from one foot to the other. She looked down at the floor rather than making eye contact. “It wasn’t me.” She bit her lip. “I mean it was, but it wasn’t.”
“What does that even mean?” Nick folded his arms across his chest.
“I did tell a friend about her and how bad she made me feel about Elvis, but I didn’t say she hurt my dog.” Gillian shook her head.
Nick frowned. “What do you mean she made you feel bad?”
“She was borderline rude to me. To be honest, I didn’t like her tone or the fact that she’s new to town and being condescending to me.” Tears pricked in Gillian’s eyes and Nick sensed they were born of anger. “I know when someone’s treating me like I’m an idiot.” She huffed air out through her nose.
“Is that what you told your friend?” Nick asked. He was still trying to figure out how Harlow’s professional skills had been called into question. Not once had Gillian mentioned anything about Harlow endangering Elvis.
“Yes, but somehow she turned everything around and made it sound as if Harlow was unfit as a veterinarian.” She made a tsking sound and held up her hands. “She spun that story on her own. I wasn’t even trying to go there!”
“And who would that friend be?” Nick asked, although he was pretty sure he knew already.
“Who else?” Gillian asked, twisting her mouth. “Patsy. I should never have discussed it with her, but I was angry and I ran my mouth. I acted childishly that day at the festival when I didn’t speak to Doc Harlow.”
Nick ran a hand over his face. A groan escaped his lips. He should have known Patsy was at the heart of this. Patsy was the queen of town gossip. She lived on Blackberry Beach right next door to Stella and Luke, and she thrived on the rumor mill. She had been responsible for an abundance of tall tales that had run rampant through their small town. She was also quite ornery and not the type of person to see reason. Unlike Gillian, the older woman wouldn’t even acknowledge her role in the matter. To Nick, she seemed to get nastier by the week.
“Thanks for being straight with me,” Nick said. “I appreciate your candor.” Knowing that she was taking responsibility for her part in the rumors was a relief. Gillian hadn’t always behaved well over the years, but she hadn’t ever gone this low. Nick believed her version of events.
