Mad Minute by MariaLisa deMora

Author:MariaLisa deMora
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781946738325
Publisher: MLK Publishing
Published: 2019-04-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Nathan

Strolling up the sidewalk, Nathan curled Cathy closer to his side. The clubhouse loomed just ahead, only a half block away. Lights shone out the windows, creating an oasis of light and support. “So I’ve got you for a week, huh?”

“Yup, we don’t have to leave until New Year’s Day.” She snuggled against his arm, crutches left behind in the house held in both of their names. He hadn’t asked what magic Oscar had worked to make that happen, or how the man had managed to keep the renovation a secret, either. Not of Cathy, at least. He’d be asking Oscar face-to-face, soon.

Not today, though. This was Christmas, and magic was supposed to happen.

“You think Katie will be okay with me staying over?”

“Oh, yeah. She’ll be more than okay with it.” Cathy’s voice bubbled with amusement. “Be ready for an early morning wake-up. She’s missed that, a lot.”

“Is it really this easy? Can it be this easy?” He slowed and stopped, and Cathy swung around in front of him, chin lifted as if she were ready for a fight. “No, really, Cath. How can you forgive me?”

She drew a deep breath, eyes fixed on his. Bottom lip between her teeth, she studied him seriously. “Will there be moments where I want to smack you for stealing time from me?” She shrugged, eyes bright as she blinked quickly. “Probably.” A broken laugh nearly turned into something else, and he lost sight of her mouth when she covered her trembling lips with a hand. “I’m human, Nathan. You’re going to irritate me, and you’re going to cop attitude, and you’re going to disappear inside your head and I’m going to get scared, then mad, and then who knows what.” Her hand dropped, and she smiled at him, that broad beam of love only she had ever directed his way. “And none of that matters at the end of the day. Because through it all, I’ll know you love me. And you’ll know I love you.” She thumped his chest with the palm of one hand. “And that’s why it’s this easy.”

Behind her, the door to the clubhouse opened, and Katie darted out, connected to Kirby by his grip on her hand. In the distance, Nathan heard his best friend’s voice threaded through with laughter as he called, “She’s tired of waitin’ on you, old man.”

Cathy stepped to the side and waved in a rolling motion. “Come on down, Katie bug.”

Katie was in motion almost before Kirby released his hold. She took the steps that had frustrated Nathan only hours before in two big jumps, her landing secure. She pivoted and pelted up the sidewalk, arms waving over her head. “Daddy, Daddy.”

Nathan shifted his stance, centering himself before she got to him, anticipating the leap that took her up and up, at arms reach flying in the sky, then back down to be cradled against his chest. Over her head, he locked gazes with Cathy, seeing the final lines of tension fading away.

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