Page 13 of Almost Ours
Connor laughed. “It’s definitely Mr. Baynard.”
I smiled, glancing over at the woman beside me.
“I’m Nina, by the way,” she said, offering her hand with an easy confidence. “Liam’s aunt.”
“Harper,” I replied, shaking it. “Connor’s mom.”
Her smile deepened. “Nice to officially meet you.”
I nodded. “You too. We should probably get home, Connor.”
“We were just heading out too,” Nina said easily, falling into step beside me as the boys ran ahead. “Looks like we’re heading in the same direction.”
I offered a polite nod, focusing on the boys bounding through the snow. They looked so at ease together–like they’d been friends for years, not one day.
I kept waiting for the questions from Nina to come, but they didn’t. Just a quiet kind of companionship that, strangely, didn’t feel like too much.
A few minutes later, Liam twisted around mid-stride. “Aunt Nina, can we go over to Connor’s house?”
“Yeah!” Connor added, spinning to face me as he walked backwards. “Please?”
My feet slowed. My heart tugged at the hope in Connor’s voice, but my brain spiraled with the reality of our house–furniture, yes, though none of it truly ours. No toys scattered on the floor, no familiar blankets or books lining the shelves. Just someone else’s couch, someone else’s table, and a handful of things crammed into drawers we hadn’t fully claimed yet.
“That sounds fun,” I said, trying to keep my tone upbeat, “today might be a bit too soon. We still have stuff to do around the house to get settled in.”
Both boys wilted slightly, and guilt curled in my stomach.
“How about tomorrow?” I added quickly.
“That’s a great idea,” Nina chimed in. “Why don’t you guys come to our place after school tomorrow?”
Connor brightened immediately. “Okay!”
“I can show you my LEGO collection!” Liam said.
I blinked, filing away that small detail.Ourplace. Notmyplace ormy sister’s. Just…ours. I didn’t ask, even though curiosity prickled at me. Partly because I didn’t want to pry. Mostly because I didn’t want her asking anything in return.
By the time we reached Cedar Street, the boys were already a few steps ahead, launching snowballs at signposts and arguing over who had better aim.
“So, where are you guys living?” Nina asked casually as we walked side by side, pulling her toque down.
“Just a couple more blocks up the road here,” I said, nodding toward where we were heading. “The one with the pond in the backyard.”
“Oh! That used to belong to the Wallace’s. A girl I went to high school with used to throw the wildest Halloween parties there. I’m talking fog machines, strobe-lights–the whole deal.”
I raised a brow. “You grew up here?”
“I did,” she said. “Thought I’d never come back, but… life had other plans. Liam needed me, so here we are. Not exactly where I pictured myself at this age. Then again, none of us ever really end up where we thought we would.”
There was something honest in her voice–no bitterness, just truth. I nodded, grateful she wasn’t asking for my story in return.
“Well, it sounds like a pretty fun place to grow up.” I replied as we walked ahead.
Nina’s smile didn’t falter, though her shoulders tensed every so slightly. “It had its moments,” she said with a short laugh, light enough to pass, yet not quite reaching her eyes.
“You working at the bakery now?” she asked, changing the subject.
I blinked, surprised. “How did you–?”
