Page 39 of Hearts on the Mend

Kind.

“My parents are nice. They wanted to help.”

“Must be where you get it from.”

“He certainly doesn’t take after his father or his grandfather,” an older woman says, walking in to interrupt us. “Nolan’s disposition can be described as a nor’easter.” She gives me a once-over, then pulls me into a hug. “You must be happy to be standing in a house that isn’t falling apart.”

“You’re falling apart,” another older woman says, joining us from a scooter. “I’m June Harrington, and I’ve heard all about you. Nice to finally meet you, Cassie.”

“Ladies.” Nolan side-hugs his grandmother, awkwardness heavy in the air. “Be kind to our guests. I need to rein in Dad before he gives Ruby the entire candy store.”

“Oh, a little sugar won’t hurt,” Bridget says with a wink.

“That’s how I like to deal with it too, but then bedtime comes…” I laugh. Bridget means well. They all do.

I blame emergency medicine. I’ve seen enough terrible shit that it’s amazing I don’t make Ruby walk around in a bubble.

Richie made a delicious pot roast for lunch, which Ruby thankfully eats without too much of a fuss. That’s mostly thanks to the extra-extra chocolate milk Kathleen makes her and the rolls Bridget and June keep slipping her under the table.

“What are your plans for after you sell the house?” Kathleen asks.

The question catches me off guard, though it shouldn’t.

For a long time, all my time and attention went toward the divorce. The lawyers, the back-and-forth with Matt, the slow unraveling of a life I’d built around him. After that, it was getting Ruby somewhere stable. Getting here. That felt like enough.

I haven’t let myself think past that. But now I have to.

It seems impossible that by spring, the house will be ready to list. A few short months away, and I still don’t have an answer. Not even a shitty one.

The problem is, I’m starting to find my place here in Merritt Point. Starting to find a village of people who show up without being asked, who want to know me, who slip my daughter rolls under the table and make her extra-extra chocolate milk.

It’s the most selfless thing Nolan has given me, even if he doesn’t realize he’s the reason any of them are here.

I don’t think he understands that they’re there for him too.

“Not sure. Maybe move closer to my mom up in New York. She has a bed-and-breakfast there. Depends a lot on how the divorce settles.”

I don’t want to get into all the details with Ruby at the table. I try hard to be as amicable as I can be toward her father because in her eyes, the man still hangs the moon.

“Nolan’s leaving us,” Richie says around a bite of potato. “As soon as he can, probably. Never saw him pack so fast to get out of here to move into your place.”

I peek up at Nolan. He’s slumped in his chair, picking at his food like a sullen teen. “Not a big need for smoke jumpers in Merritt Point, Dad.”

“You could work in town. Not like we don’t have fires here.”

The mood of the room flattens before Kathleen sets down her fork. “Chief Teskey has talked about retiring for years now. You’d make a great captain for the fire department.” I hear the hope and heartbreak in her words.

“Oh, leave the poor boy alone,” June says beside him.

The table falls silent.

“Must be hard after everything,” she continues. “Nolan will figure it out. He always does.”

He straightens a bit, reaches over, and pats June’s hand with his.

“Well, I like Nolan,” Ruby declares. “Maybe he can work with Daddy.”

“Maybe,” Nolan says, surprising me.