Page 24 of The Heart That Breaks
“Nathan. What are you doing here?”
He holds up the garment bag, looking hopeful when he says, “My sister thought you might like these two. She said you’re about the same size, so they should fit.”
I shake my head a little. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Not when I have a worthy goal. Will you at least try them on?”
“You mean now?”
He gives me a look, as if he’s not sure I’m serious. “Ah, maybe later when you’ve got a mirror.”
“A dress isn’t going to turn the ugly step-sister into Cinderella.”
He lowers himself onto the ground beside me, his back against the barrel, his gaze fixed ahead, as if he can’t bring himself to look at me. “Ann-Elizabeth, you already are Cinderella. You don’t need a dress for that.”
“I wasn’t fishing for compliments,” I say quickly, not wanting him to think I was.
“I know. But you are.”
I shiver, not sure whether to attribute it to the chill in the night air or the fact that Nathan’s shoulder is touching mine.
“Are you cold?” he asks, looking at me now.
“No,” I say.
“Mind if I ask why you’re doing your homework out here?”
“Because I like to do it out here with Henry.”
Nathan doesn’t say anything for a good long while. “You can’t stay out here through the winter.”
“I’m hoping Mama will kick him out before it gets too cold.”
“Do you think she will?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“You’ll freeze out here.”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”
“What does your mom see in him?”
I shrug. “The only thing I can figure is that she thinks she deserves someone like him.”
“That’s messed up.”
I glance off into the darkness. “Based on how she grew up, I kind of get it.”
“How did she grow up?”
“Feeling like she wasn’t supposed to be.”
“I read somewhere that girls either pick someone exactly like their dad or the complete opposite. Think that’s true?”
“Probably. Guess I won’t have to worry about that theory since I never knew mine.”
“What happened to him?”
