“And I appreciate it,” she said right away. “Believe me, he was the best big brother I could have had growing up.”
“He just didn’t want you in harm’s way,” Jensen said. “I should have understood that he’d look at it like that.”
Willow smiled down at her hands and shook her head.
“What?” he asked.
“I know it cost you your best friend,” she said after a moment. “But you should also know that it meant a lot to me that you took the time for that conversation—you’re the reason I joined up, and I’ll always be grateful.”
Jensen nodded. He was too moved to try and say anything in reply, so he focused on the road.
She seemed to relax a little, her attention moving to the view out the windows.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she murmured.
“I remember when I first came home,” he said, nodding. “I mean, I always loved Trinity Falls, but the wide-open space and the trees… it was all better than I remembered.”
“Yeah,” she said, smiling out the window. “I guess I never appreciated it before I saw the rest of the world. I used to think winter was just brown and gray here, but look at all this.”
They were passing houses with beautiful greenery hung from the porch railings and red-ribboned wreaths on the doors. Lights and decorations in the yard would come alive with even more color as soon as the sun went down.
“And the snow makes it look like a Christmas card,” Jensen agreed. “So where are we headed?”
“I’m renting the apartment over Carla’s Place,” she said.
“Oh, that’s great,” he told her.
Carla’s Place was Natalie Cassidy and Chris Bell’s grandmother’s old house. When Carla Bell passed a few years ago, the two of them turned the first floor into a hangout for the town’s seniors. A bunch of the businesses in town donated food and drinks, as well as funds toward the utility bills. The rent Willow paid to live in the upstairs apartment would probably add to the pot.
“It stays quiet at night,” she said. “And if I get lonely during the day, I’ve got all the company in the world downstairs.”
“I’ll bet,” Jensen chuckled, as he pulled onto Park Avenue. The older folks would definitely gravitate toward a sweet young woman like Willow.
“Cookie,” a little voice announced suddenly from the back seat.
Willow turned back with a smile for Henry.
“That’s right, buddy. We just passed the bakery,” Jensen said. “Sometimes Mal gives you a cookie, doesn’t she?”
“Yes,”Henry said softly, as if he had just remembered that Willow was in the front seat.
“Well, we’re taking our friend home right now,” Jensen told him. “But maybe we can stop for a cookie on our way back to our house.”
He frowned, wondering if Willow would think he spoiled his boy. It was just that Henry didn’t talk much, so Jensen liked to encourage him when he did.
“I like sweets too, Henry,” Willow said gently.
Jensen had to chuckle at that understatement. Willow had a serious sweet tooth when they were kids, and that hadn’t changed if her bags from the farm were anything to go by.
He pulled up in front of Carla’s Place. The wide front porch he remembered was still there, but there was a swinging bench hanging from it now and plenty of chairs so folks could get a little fresh air.
“Stay in here with Henry for a second and I’ll carry your tree up,” he offered.
“Oh, no,” she told him. “I’m fine.”
“I can’t let you carry a tree upstairs all by yourself,” he said.
“Have you seen the tree?” she asked, quirking an eyebrow.
