Page 11 of Letters From Home

Jessica settled Jack in front of his favorite show and kissed the top of his head. “You’ll be good for Mommy? No more adventures today.”

The boy looked at her with wide eyes. “No more adventures,” he promised. “Nick said I should climb trees from the bottom. And he’s going to teach me.”

Jessica chuckled and ruffled his hair. “That's nice of Nick. No climbing while you’re alone, though. I’m getting ready for dinner now. Stay in the living room.”

After Jack promised to stay put, she dashed to the bathroom down the hallway. Jessica left the door open as she dragged a brush through her hair, in case Jack got bored and wandered around the house.

But Jack wasn’t the first person to come her way. She heard heavy footsteps on the staircase, and then Nick appeared by the bathroom door.

“Window’s nailed shut for now,” he said, giving her a nod. “We’ve got locking windows to install upstairs. Jack wouldn’t be able to open them until he’s about ten years old. He’ll be less adventurous by then.” Nick twisted his lips in a grin, shaking his head. “As a former ten-year-old boy, I need to rethink that statement. We can nail them shut again if you'd like.”

Jessica threw her head back and laughed, relieved that Jack was safe and delighted that Nick was painting himself into their future. Yes, kids and teens could get into plenty of trouble with an open window. She hoped her boy would know better, and learn from her mistakes.

Not a mistake. Jack would never be a mistake. Becoming a teenage parent wasn’t an easy path, though. Jessica felt her lips tug into a frown. Would Nick stick around once he realized how hard it was to be a parent?

Nick walked into the bathroom, holding out an arm and wrapping her in a hug. “Hey, don’t look so sad,” he said. “Jack’s safe. You’re doing a great job with him.” Nick rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “You told me to stop leaving letters in your mailbox, and you’ve accepted my invitation for ice cream. But I had one more note for you.”

Jessica bit her bottom lip and took the paper, staring at it. She recognized the flowery pattern—it was from her kitchen countertop. What had he written in the last few minutes?

There was only one way to find out. Jessica carefully unfolded the note.

I promise to catch you when you fall. To never look away when you need me. And to always treat you and Jack like the most important people in my life.

Will you take a chance on me? Circle one:

Yes or No

Jessica let out a laugh, wiping away the single tear that fell from her eyes. It was a silly note—the kind that high school kids passed between each other. But it brought her back to a simpler time, when both of them were teenagers without a worry in the world.

All of his notes made him feel like that, she realized. They were like letters from the past, welcoming her back to Sunset Cove. They reminded her that this town would always be her home.

Life might be complicated, but she didn’t have to be alone. Watching Nick climb that tree had made her realize that. Sometime over the past few weeks, her feelings for Nick had grown into something big—and a bit scary. But did love need to be scary? Because she was pretty sure this feeling was love.

Maybe it was time to give him a chance. He cared about her and never forgot to include Jack.

Jessica reached out and plucked the carpenter’s pencil from Nick’s front pocket. She turned her back to him, laid the note on the windowsill, and circled “yes.”

They weren’t kids in high school anymore. But they were starting something much more exciting than a first date.

Chapter eight

Nick

“This is the bestcheeseburger I’ve ever had!” Jack declared, taking a hearty bite. “I was hungry.”

“Climbing trees builds up an appetite, doesn’t it?” Nick asked wryly, tapping his hand on the table to get Jack’s attention. “Don’t do that again. We stay on the ground, unless an adult is with you.”

Jack nodded, his eyes growing wide as he looked at Nick. “Mom made me promise that, too. I won’t do it by myself again.”

Nick chuckled and pushed some fries toward the boy. They’d gone to Scoops and Cones for dinner and dessert. It was one of the few local restaurants that stayed open in the winter. “Glad to hear it. These burgers are good, but you’ve got to try The Cove’s food this summer. They’ve got great milkshakes, too.”

“I haven’t had a Cove milkshake in years,” Jessica said, snagging some fries for herself. “Are they as delicious as I remember?”

“They’re even better,” he promised. “Especially when you share them.”

“I like to share,” Jack piped up. “What’s a milkshake?”

The adults laughed. Nick smiled at mother and son as Jessica explained why The Cove’s milkshakes were the best.Please let me be part of this family,he prayed.I want to spend every day with this kid and his mom.

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