six feet, with broad shoulders and thick dark hair just like Nick. From our conversations I knew he was involved in the lumber industry and had retired a few years back. His mother had been a nurse and she, too, had recently retired.
“I’m pleased to meet you both,” I said.
Nick pulled out a chair for me to sit and then took the seat next to me. He reached for my hand. I’d rather he hadn’t, but I wouldn’t embarrass him or myself by pulling it free of his hold.
“Nick’s told us a lot about you,” his mother commented. Her eyes were warm and kind but carried a deep pain. “We’re grateful for all you’ve done for our son.”
I glanced at Nick, wondering exactly what he’d told them.
He offered me a reassuring smile.
“Hard to understand why a pretty gal like you has never married,” Chuck said.
My breath froze in my lungs. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t heard this before. People in my parents’ generation seemed to think every woman needed a husband. To be fair, I’d wanted that, too, wanted the husband and the family.
“We were hoping to meet you,” Marie continued in a soft, cultured voice.
“To thank you,” Chuck added.
“Thank me?” I swiveled my attention to Nick’s father.
“Nick tells me you’ve convinced him to talk to a counselor.”
“Yes, his first appointment was this week. His next one is Monday and then again on Friday.” Although Nick hadn’t been keen to continue after that first session, he’d agreed to follow through. I knew it was hard scraping open a wound that had only started to heal, but it was necessary.
“You’ve been a tremendous help to Nick,” Marie continued. “He’s been singing your praises ever since we arrived. We’re grateful you’ve given our son the courage to face the future.” Her voice wobbled as she struggled with emotion, but she righted it and didn’t allow it to overtake her.
“Nick explained that meeting you this summer has made a big difference,” his father added.
“I…I don’t know what Nick told you,” I said, feeling it was important to correct any misunderstanding, “but I’ve done very little.”
“Nick needs someone like you,” Marie continued. “You’re exactly the kind of woman I’d hoped he’d find.”
My gaze shot to Nick. I didn’t know what he’d said, but from the gist of the conversation it sounded as if he’d made our relationship sound far more serious than it was, than I intended.
“Son, show me that electrical panel again, would you?”
This was a blatant attempt to get me alone with Marie.
Nick reluctantly stood, his eyes on me. I gave him a small smile, assuring him all was well and he need not worry.
As soon as the two men were out of the room, I spoke first. “I have a feeling Nick implied there was more between us than there is. We’re friends and that’s all it’s likely to be.”
Marie’s face fell. “Not according to Nick.”
“Yes, well…”
“He’s falling in love with you, Emily. Surely you know that.” She wore a wounded look, as if I’d dashed her hopes. “He told us how everything changed after he met you and how good you’ve been for him and how you’ve helped him. Once we’d cleared the air about what happened that awful night with Brad, you were all Nick talked about.” She paused and then added in a low, wounded voice, “Please, don’t hurt him. Nick is in a fragile place.”
“So am I,” I told her. We’d both had a year. A year since Brad died and a year since James saw Katie again.
“Ah,” she murmured, “that explains it.”
“Explains what?” I asked, raising my head and straightening my shoulders.
“What drew the two of you to each other.”
I could argue but didn’t. Following what had happened with Jayson’s mother, I felt it was necessary to explain my situation before she started dreaming of Nick and me together, giving her grandbabies to cuddle and love.
“You should know something about me,” I said, and wondered if three tiny lines had appeared between my eyes the way Nick claimed they did when I was nervous.
Marie leaned forward and pressed her hand over mine. “I already know. Nick told us.”
“He told you I’m infertile?” I bristled. This was private information, which I’d shared with relatively few.
“Don’t be upset with him.”
“He told me—”
“I know what he said,” Marie interrupted. “He told us that it originally shook him, too, but he has since decided it doesn’t matter. If your relationship progresses to the point you want to make a