Page 37 of Almost Ours
I watched her go, warmth blooming in my chest. I hadn’t expected to find this kind of community when I moved here–hadn’t expected to find people who’d show up for me, for Connor, just because they wanted to. Starting over had been terrifying, and there were still days when the loneliness crept in, days when the weight of doing it all on my own felt crushing. Then there were days like this, reminders that I wasn’t as alone as I sometimes felt.
People like Mrs. Knox made it easier. They gave us a sense of belonging, of home.
I exhaled, letting the warmth of the thought settle over me, though the feeling wavered as I turned back to the booth.
Something prickled at the back of my neck.
The festive buzz of Winterfest carried on around me, but for a split second, the rest of the world felt too still. Thatsame creeping awareness that always seemed to follow me, the sense that I was being watched. I glanced around, my fingers tightening around the edge of the counter.
Nothing. Just people moving around the festival, their faces familiar. Safe.
Get a grip, Harper.
I shook off the feeling, forcing myself to focus–just as a shadow fell over the counter.
My breath hitched, my stomach clenching before my brain caught up.
Ryan.
He stood there, bundled up in a navy coat and a beanie, his easy grin warming me more than the nearby heaters.
“You okay?” he asked, brows lifting slightly.
I forced a smile, shaking off the last of my nerves. “Yeah. Just lost in thought.”
“How’s the booth holding up?” he asked, his hands sliding into his pockets.
“So far, so good,” I replied, nodding toward the steady stream of people picking up cocoa and baked goods. “No sabotage yet, but Benny’s still on high alert.”
Ryan chuckled, his shoulders shaking beneath his coat. “Good to know. Though I’m here on another mission.”
“Oh?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, curiosity prickling.
He gestured toward Connor, who was taking his “job” very seriously, chatting with the customers and counting change with great concentration. “I was thinking I could take him off your hands for a while. There’s a lot going on–games, activities, you name it. Figured we could hit a few before the fireworks later.”
Connor’s head snapped up at the word “fireworks.” He rushed over, his eyes wide with excitement. “Can we, Mom? Please? Liam told me that there’s a snow maze and a snowball toss and–”
“Okay, okay,” I said, holding up my hands with a laugh. “I get the picture.”
I hesitated. My fingers twitched toward the edge of the table, fidgeting with the corner of a napkin. Part of me wanted to say no. Not because I didn’t trust Ryan–he’d proven that he was dependable. But still… handing my son off, even just for an hour or two, wasn’t something I did lightly. Even with Mrs. Knox–who’d already watched Connor a handful of times and treated him like one of her own–I always felt that tiny squeeze in my chest when I let him out of my sight.
Connor talked aboutCoach Ryanevery single day. Multiple times a day. Like he was the human embodiment of a superhero. He looked up to him in a way I hadn’t seen since… well, ever.
And if I wanted Connor to feel at home in this town… if I wanted to believe that I could feel safe here too, I had to start letting go. Just a little.
“I promise to keep him out of trouble,” Ryan said, his voice gentler now, like he sensed my internal war. “And I won’t let him out of my sight.”
Connor practically bounced on his toes, his excitement infectious. “Please, Mom?”
I sighed, my resistance softening as I reached out and tugged his hat snug over his ears. “Alright. Just… text me every now and then, okay? Check in.”
Ryan nodded. “Of course.”
“You stay with Ryan,” I said to Connor, squatting slightly so I was eye level with him. “Listen to him, and no running off.”
“I won’t, Mom. I promise!” he beamed.
I straightened and gave Ryan a small, grateful smile. “I’ll come find you once I’m free here.”
