The ball was definitely in his court now. She had done her best to send it flying back in. Did it land inside the lines?
“So,” Nick said, “do you still want to get that drink sometime?”
Score.
Courtney raised her head and smiled. “Absolutely. That would be great.”
Now, don’t be vague this time, she silently begged. Puhleeze.
“Okay, cool.” Nick cleared his throat. “How’s Friday night?”
Courtney smiled big. “Perfect.”
Ten
“Does Ash always follow you around like this?” Courtney glanced behind Mrs. Brady as they ambled along the trail to the lake. It was a cloudy Friday afternoon but the temperature was comfortable. Courtney had spent three hours at the office this morning discussing projects and was glad to steal an hour outside.
“Why, yes. He does. It’s strange, isn’t it? Thinks he’s a dog, I imagine.”
Courtney laughed. “I wonder if you could teach him to fetch like a dog?”
Mrs. Brady stopped to lift a foot carefully over a small rock on the sandy path, holding out her hand so Courtney could steady her.
“You’re not going to believe this, dear, but he actually does play fetch. Mr. Brady used to throw a stick for him in the yard! It was the strangest thing. That cat would run right out and grab it—bring it back to him! It used to make us laugh. He’d do it over and over again.”
She had a distant look in her eye. “I haven’t tried that with Ash in a long time.”
Courtney heard the sadness in her voice but recognized Mrs. Brady’s ability to look past the grief of her husband’s death.
“Aw, that’s so cool. A cat that fetches?”
“You’ll have to try it with him, see if he’ll still do it.”
“I will.” Courtney watched the cat, who dawdled along a few paces behind.
“But yes, Ash always takes my walks with me. Matter of fact, he usually follows me around the house, too. Keeps me company. Of course he’s asleep a lot of the time, but I’ll take it! So am I.” She laughed.
Courtney loved to listen to Mrs. Brady talk. The woman was remarkably cheerful, considering she’d become a widow just under a year ago.
A gull flew overhead, and they stopped to watch, then continued along.
“Now, tell me. Did you and Nicholas have a nice chat the other day? I saw you two outside your door.”
Courtney blushed, and cast her gaze to the ground. “Uh, yes. He seems very nice.”
“He most certainly is. And he’s a good catch! Needs a girlfriend, too, if you ask me. He’s getting too old to be all alone.”
Courtney giggled. “I thought he was only twenty-six or twenty-seven.”
“He is! Twenty-seven, I believe. I was married with two children by that age, my dear.”
Courtney grinned.
They reached the edge of the shore and stopped to take in the scenery. Soft waves lapped at the sand and water fowl milled about in the shallows in search of a meal.
Mrs. Brady directed Courtney to a bench nearby. “Let’s go sit for a minute.”
Courtney helped Mrs. Brady settle on the seat. “Well, you’ll be happy to know Nick and I have a little date tonight, then.”
“Is that right?” A look of satisfaction crept across Mrs. Brady’s face. “Well, that’s delightful. I hope you kids have a nice time.”
Courtney thanked her.
“But don’t stay out too late.”
Courtney grinned and promised she wouldn’t.
“Great to see you, bro.” Kenny grabbed Nick by one hand and threw an arm around his other shoulder, pulling him in.
“It’s been too long, man. I’m so glad you stopped in. Nick hadn’t seen his brother in six months.
“Me too. We have to catch the ferry in about two hours. Worked out perfectly.”
Kenny and his girlfriend, Gloria, were taking a few precious days off for a romantic getaway on picturesque Washington Island, which sat just north of the Door County peninsula in Lake Michigan. Heritage Bay was an easy stop along the way.
It was midafternoon and in between peak times at the shop, and since another employee was working, Nick went on break. He stood with Kenny and Gloria around an otherwise empty Inlet Outfitters while they relayed the latest crazy stories from the hospital.
Kenny had called and said he wanted Nick to meet his new girlfriend. Gloria was a first-year resident like Kenny. They’d been dating for five months and it was starting to get serious. Kenny said he hoped Nick would like her.
Nick approved. He hadn’t seen his brother behave so attentively to a woman in, well—possibly, ever.
And it looked as though Gloria was just as smitten. Nick hoped it would work out for the long term.
After the chitchat, Kenny glanced at Gloria. “Hey babe, we should get going soon, but I need a few minutes with this guy.” He punched Nick lightly on the arm. “Brother talk. I won’t be long. Would you mind waiting out in the car for a few minutes?”
“Not at all,” she said agreeably. He tossed her the keys and she gave Nick a hug.
“Bye, Nick. It’s so nice to finally meet you. I hope we see you again soon.”
“Great to meet you, too, Gloria. Hey, and have a great time this week.” They watched her leave.
“I like her. I’m happy for you, man.” Nick leaned back against the front of the counter.
“Thanks. She’s something else.”
“So what’d you want to talk about?”
Kenny cleared his throat. “Listen, Nick, it’s been hard with you gone. Dad really wants you back. Wants you to reconsider your decision about school.”
Nick’s eyebrows shot up. This was new. Nick had been away for a year now and his father had barely said two words, apart from a phone call last week, which hadn’t gone well.
“I know he can be a real jerk sometimes, but his heart’s in the right place. I didn’t really understand it when we were younger, but, man, I get it now. It’s not easy, doing what he does.”
Nick listened. “I know. But why can’t he just chill out and let me do what I want? Let me decide my own life?”
“Because he sees things differently than most of us. And he wants what’s best for you.”
Nick shook his head. “How does he know what’s best for me? We don’t agree on a lot of things—obviously. And he can’t seem to look beyond his nose to appreciate a different point of view. He just loses his patience with me.” Nick stood up from the counter and shoved a hand in the pocket of his shorts.
“Nick, he’s a busy man. His stress levels are over the top. Been that way for years.”
Nick understood. Heck, it was half the reason Nick didn’t make it through med school. He kept trying to picture the end product of what all of his hard work would bring him, and the only thing he could imagine was a stressed-out, overwhelming daily struggle.
“And believe me, I get it now.” Kenny took a deep breath. “I just wish you would cut him a break when he gets like that.”
Nick shrugged. “I’m not holding anything against him. I’m just living my life. Anyway, tell him to chill. Stress levels like that aren’t good for him. He should know better than anybody. Does he ever think about that?”