Page 36 of Postmarked December

She’d clearly made him nervous. Had her connection to Toby been too much of a surprise? She’d effectively just yanked them both into reality. If he did know who Toby was, he’d probably heard about his death, which would bring up a whole lot of questions about her. It had only been a year. He might be wondering if he’d have to deal with navigating her grief. He could even be thinking about the press’s reaction to anything that might come of this. Tears wanted to well up for the broken woman she’d been before this trip and the tiny wisp of a new woman who’d begun to emerge. While she didn’t want to ruin what she and Nick had started, she had to tell him eventually.

“Have you heard of him?” she asked, hoping her question would prompt some explanation as to what he was feeling.

“Yes.” The empathetic drop in his features revealed that her emotions had surfaced despite her attempt to keep them at bay. “I’m so sorry.”

That was the most common response she’d gotten over the last year, whenever anyone found out about Toby’s death. It was a nice, even reply when they didn’t know what else to say.

“You’re incredibly strong,” he said suddenly.

Strong wasn’t even close to the descriptors she’d given herself in the last year. “I look strong to you?”

He nodded. “Losing a loved one is an immense weight to carry, and you do it effortlessly. This is the first time all weekend I’ve seen an inkling of that weight in your eyes.”

“Maybe I’m getting practiced at carrying it.” Or maybe you lift it off me, she wanted to say.

The flight attendant took their drink orders, but Nick’s attention was right back on Heather the minute the attendant had moved on.

“I feel stronger after having met you,” she said, trying to find the best way to say it. “You’ve made a huge impact in helping me to carry it.” Her absolute vulnerability scared her. She hadn’t talked about her personal life with anyone but Marion, and revealing her bruised and battered underbelly wasn’t entirely comfortable. More so because she worried about Nick’s thoughts in all this. He’d met her on a quick weekend trip, he hadn’t signed up for her baggage.

“I know that’s probably weird to say after only two days,” she added, trying to sound less crazy. What was she doing unloading all this on him?

But he offered a gentle smile. “I’ve helped you?”

“Well, I actually came on this trip to feel closer to Toby.” She quietly recounted to him all the notes and what had happened.

He listened, his face void of judgment.

“I know getting notes after someone’s passed on sounds insane. I hear myself. And I have no answer for it all.”

“You have no idea who might be doing all this?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Maybe you could help me try to figure it out, given your research skills.”

He laughed. “I didn’t say I was an investigative researcher. I mostly look at marketing trends.”

True to the nature she’d witnessed all weekend, he took all her drama in stride, seemingly unruffled and relaxed. She craved the way he balanced her slight edge. And she couldn’t deny how great he was for her.

Chapter Fifteen

The plane landed, but this time, Heather and Nick walked together to the baggage claim to retrieve their bags.

“Do you have a ride home?” he asked.

“My car’s in the lot,” she replied, hoping he needed a ride himself. “How about you?”

“A friend’s picking me up.”

This was it. Back to reality indeed. She pulled out her phone. “Give me your number.”

He told her the number, and she created a contact.

His phone pinged. “My ride’s outside already, so I have to go.” He shifted his bag on his shoulder and tipped his suitcase onto the rolling wheels.

“Okay.” Feeling rushed all of a sudden, she said, “I’ll text you when I get to my car so you can have mine.”

They lingered briefly, unsure of how to leave one another. Should she give him a hug? Just say goodbye? Nothing quite fit.

She waved her phone in the air. “I’ll text you.”