“That’s not necessary. I can outfit myself, if you can tell me where to shop.”
Maggie nodded slightly. “I understand if you’re uncomfortable with using Tom’s things.” What man would truly want the leftovers of a dead man, after all?
“I don’t mind at all. I thought maybe you were uncomfortable with it, which I completely understand.”
Maggie looked up. Nate was watching her calmly, one ankle crossed over his knee. His lips were unsmiling, but not cold. No, never cold, she realized. She was starting to understand that what she’d mistaken for coolness earlier was just him waiting, accepting. Like he understood far more than he should for someone so young.
And he was young. When she thought about the numbers, she realized there was much behind her and much ahead for him. She’d been married, raised a child, knew what to expect from life and had accepted it. But he had so much yet to discover. She was good at reading people, doing what she did, and unless she missed her guess, Nate had all those things ahead of him.
But when she looked into his eyes like she was now, the numbers faded away into nothingness. Somehow, without knowing each other hardly at all, she got the feeling they were strangely coming from a similar place. Like she recognized something in him though they’d never met before. Something that superseded the difference in their ages.
“It’s not doing anyone any good in storage. You are most welcome to it.”
“In that case, thanks. I appreciate it, Maggie.”
He used her given name again and it felt very personal. Like they’d crossed a threshold moving them from simple guest/proprietor relationship to something more. Which was ridiculous, wasn’t it?
Maggie leaned ahead and poured herself more coffee. It was good Nate was going to use the things. Letting go of Tom had taken a long time. But the sense of loss never left her completely. Or the sense of regret. She had a box of small trinkets she kept all the time, mementos of those she’d loved, tucked away in a box in her closet. She had memories and other reminders of Tom; the skis and snowshoes wouldn’t be missed. It was a long time ago and in most respects, she’d moved on.
And in the others…that was none of his business.
Jennifer popped in the door, grinning first at Nate and then over at Maggie. “I thought I smelled coffee.”
Maggie was glad of the interruption. “You’ll have to grab a mug from the kitchen.”
With a flashy smile, Jen saluted and disappeared. Maggie couldn’t repress the smirk that twisted her lips. Nate looked over at her with raised eyebrows, and Maggie let out a soft laugh. For all of her troubles, Jen was the breath of fresh air that brightened the house when she was home.
“She’s got lots of energy,” Nate commented dryly, his hand cradled around his mug as he lifted an eyebrow at Maggie.
“That comes from being eighteen.”
“You make it sound like you’re in your dotage.”
She laughed. “Well, I’m a lot closer than I care to admit.”
Nate put down his empty cup and rested his elbows on his knees, linking his hands together. “Believe me, Maggie. You’re anything but too old.”
Maggie’s pulse leaped as his gaze locked with hers. Too old for what? For him? She couldn’t deny the undercurrents that kept running through their conversation, or the way he’d kissed the tip of her finger. The way she’d caught him staring at her lips. Perhaps flirtation came naturally to him. But she was very out of practice.
“I’m old enough to have a grown daughter to worry about.”
Jen popped back in the door and headed straight for the coffeepot, oblivious to the tension in the room. As she poured, she gave her mother the update. “Three loads down, one more to go and my term paper is printing as we speak.”
“Atta girl.” It was a relief for Maggie to turn her attention to Jen and away from Nate’s probing glances.
“Hmph.” Jen grumbled as she stirred milk and two heaping teaspoons of sugar into her mug. “Break would have been more fun if I could have gone out instead of being cooped up here writing about the War of 1812.”
“What exactly do you do for fun around here?” Nate took a sip of coffee.
Maggie looked at Jen. Maggie’s idea of going out for fun wasn’t quite the same as Jen’s. Maggie preferred for Jen to hang out with girls her own age. Maybe go into Sundre to a movie or something. It was one thing about living in a very small community. Maggie remembered it well. Someone would make a liquor run and everyone would converge on an agreed spot. Most of the time it was harmless, but not always. As they both well knew.
“I, uh…” Jen actually faltered, looking at her mother.
Good, thought Maggie. Perhaps Jen was realizing now that what she’d done was serious. And that it definitely wouldn’t seem funny to a cop.
“Um, you know, hang out with other kids and stuff. There’s not much to do around here. No place to go other than the store.”
“The store?”
Maggie answered the question. “The General Store. Unless you go into Sundre or Olds, it’s the only place around to pick up what you need.” Maggie looked at Jen, who was staring into her coffee cup. “I’m afraid kids tend to be at loose ends a lot of the time. It’s good that Jen’s going to school in Edmonton. There’s more there for her to see and do.”
Jen’s head lifted in surprise and Maggie offered a warm smile. Sure, in her heart she also knew there was potential for Jen to get into much more trouble, and that worried her. But by the same token, there was more to catch Jen’s interest and keep her busy. It was just hard not being there to make sure she was making good choices.
Maggie went to pour more coffee and realized the cream was empty.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
Nate watched her leave, then casually leaned back on the couch, crossing an ankle over his knee again.
“I get the feeling you and your mom just had a whole conversation.”
Jen looked up, her cheeks pink. “Well…yeah. Maybe. How’d you know?”
Nate chuckled softly, settling back into the cushions. “Ah. I, too, have a mother. One that saw far more than I ever thought she did.”
“My mom sees everything.”
Nate purposefully kept his pose relaxed, inviting. It might be his only opportunity. “See now? It sounds like there’s a bigger story in there somewhere. You get in some trouble, Jen?”
Her lips thinned and he recognized the stubborn rebellion in her eyes.
“You’re a cop. If I did, it would be dumb to tell you, wouldn’t it.”
Nate nodded. When she got that obstinate jut to her chin, she looked remarkably like her mother. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought. “I can see how you’d think that. But you know, I’m not here to bust you for anything. And sometimes an impartial ear comes in handy.”
“Why don’t you ask my mom?”
“Because I’m asking you. Because maybe I also became a cop to help people.”
Again, Jen stared into her cup, avoiding looking him in the eye. “I got into some trouble with the RCMP last year.”
“Doing?”
“I got caught with drugs.” Her fingers turned her coffee cup around, avoiding him.
“Were you using?” Nate was careful to voice the question gently,