Page 97 of Barefoot Lake

I do love her and must have almost said it at least fifty times, but I haven’t been able to get it out. I haven’t said those words to a woman in over a decade, and the last time I did, I certainly didn’t feel this way about the woman. I’m not sure I even knew what love was at the time if this is what it’s supposed to feel like.

I look through the windshield and see Alice gazing at me expectantly because, apparently, I’ve stopped dead in my tracks. I hurry over to her door.

“What’s up?” she asks.

“I, uh, couldn’t remember if we brought the cranberry sauce.” The excuse is awful, but Alice doesn’t seem to notice.

She holds up the can in her fist. “Fear not. I’ve got it right here!”

I take the can from her since she’s also carrying an apple pie she baked. Halfway up the walkway, I grab Alice’s free hand and feel slightly better, being able to touch her, even though all I can think about is my missed moment.

I try to plaster a neutral look on my face. I think it’s working.

I release Alice’s hand to ring the doorbell before scooping it back up.

Through the glass panel beside the door, I see Helen, Eli’s mom, rushing to greet us. She’s a short woman, all soft and warm, and always trying to load me up with food to take back home. Her short silver hair is swaying around her ears, and her eyes are nearly shut with how big she’s grinning. She swings open the door, and the smile on her face falls.

“Are you feeling ok, Jake?”

My neutral look is, in fact, not working.

“Yeah, Ma. I’m fine.”

I lean forward and give her a one-armed hug.

“This is Alice,” I say, releasing Helen.

Alice drops my hand to hold out hers, and I can see it trembling.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Chambers. Thank you so much for having me today.”

Helen’s face warms instantly and the creases from a life of smiling are deep-set beside her eyes. She takes Alice’s hand in both of hers, squeezing it before stepping forward and enveloping her.

“You sweet girl, it’s my pleasure. And, please, it’s Helen.”

Alice tentatively wraps her arm around Helen’s back and glances sideways at me from where her face sits above Helen’s shoulder. Her eyes have welled with tears, and I realize this is probably the first mom hug she’s gotten since Rain died. Alice closes her eyes and sinks into Helen’s embrace.

I blink furiously to clear the moisture in my own eyes. I know how safe that hug feels.

Alice quickly wipes at her eyes when she steps back, and my heart squeezes at the tender moment.

Then, Scott comes barreling around the corner, sliding on the tile in his socks.

“Alice! What’s up! Welcome to the family, sis!” he exclaims, scooping Alice up in a bear hug that lifts her feet off the ground as he affectionately crushes the life out of her.

Scott has never been chill a single moment in his entire life, and he’s been acting like Alice and I are married since I told him she’d be at Thanksgiving.

I try to catch his eye to glare at him for attacking Alice when she’s already nervous, but as he releases her, Scott immediately asks about Piper and shuffles Alice into the house, completely ignoring me.

Helen laughs.

“I’m sure he’s thrilled to see you, too.”

“I don’t mind,” I say honestly. “I don’t notice anybody else when Alice is around either.”

“I’m so happy for you, Jake,” Helen says sweetly.

She ushers me inside and closes the door.