North Country Family. Lois Richer
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have lots of gas. I just can’t get the thing to start,” Laurel complained.
Cassie smiled as the boys returned and gathered around Rick, drawn in by his charisma. Wrapped in their warm blankets, they sat on the floor at his feet, asking a thousand questions, barely waiting for answers.
Rod had been at Lives the longest and had beaten Rick at checkers many times. Bryan had begun to adapt to his diabetes, thanks to Rick’s encouragement. Barry was the quiet one, but his adoration of the young pastor was clear. Michael suffered from depression and Daniel dealt with the aftereffects of drug use. The newest arrivals were still finding their way at Lives, but as Rick laughed and joked with them, each boy joined in.
Every so often Rick’s eyes lifted in search of hers. Each time Cassie pretended to be busy, too aware of her heightened response to him, too embarrassed by the surge of relief that had filled her when he’d walked through the door.
“Okay, I’m ready,” Rick said to Laurel as he rose. “Got a couple of flashlights?”
She handed them to him. “I’m coming, too,” she said. “I need to see what’s wrong.”
“Okay. See you guys in a bit,” he said cheerfully. With a smile that seemed to be just for Cassie, he and Laurel left.
Cassie wasted the next ten minutes telling herself she would have worried about anyone who had been out in a storm like this. By the time the power flickered on, she’d almost convinced herself it was true. But when Rick returned and accepted the hot chocolate she handed him, her heart was still thudding and she couldn’t catch her breath.
With the furnace blasting out heat, Lives quickly warmed up. Cassie and Laurel finished preparing supper using candlelight to save the generator because no one knew when power would be restored. Then they all gathered around the big table to eat.
Cassie was not surprised in the slightest that Rick made the meal joyful, from his grace of thanksgiving to the jokes he shared.
“He’s got the boys so busy laughing there’s no time for them to miss their families,” Laurel said as they cleaned up the kitchen. “Just another reason I adore that man.”
Laurel coaxed Rick into leading the games she’d planned, and Cassie couldn’t help but laugh when he refused to let either of them sit out, despite their protests. Cassie didn’t mind. The room resounded with loud and happy laughter and she couldn’t remember when she’d had so much fun. Even Noah seemed to lose his reticence, begging her to join in a game of Twister that left Cassie feeling like a pretzel.
“You’re good at this,” Rick told her, offering a helping hand up. When she took it, she felt the warmth of his hand against hers.
“I have to be—it’s Noah’s favorite.” Once on her feet, she let go of his hand, anxious to break the connection between them.
What was wrong with her tonight? Were her responses so strong because she’d been afraid for Rick?
“It’s getting close to midnight,” Rick said. “Maybe we should fill the punch glasses so we’ll be ready for a toast.”
Since the others were busily arranging the white domino tiles for a game, Cassie agreed. She and Rick worked together. After their hands touched for the third time, Cassie couldn’t remain silent.
“I was so scared for you,” she said in a half whisper so the boys wouldn’t hear.
“Really?” His eyes widened. A smile stretched across his face. “That was nice of you. I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone worry about me before.”
A pleased look stayed with him even after they’d finished filling the glasses. Such a small thing, yet he seemed delighted by it. Cassie couldn’t help wondering why this handsome and very nice man didn’t have anybody who cared about him.
Soon they were finished and all was ready for the midnight hour.
“One more minute,” Rick said, smiling. “Then we start a new chapter in our lives.” He tapped a spoon against a glass. “Hey,” he called. “Are you guys ready for our New Year’s toast?”
The boys grabbed their glasses, laughing as they counted down the seconds. Her mind working furiously, Cassie moved as far as possible from Rick. She could not, would not get caught next to him at the stroke of midnight. Her cheeks warmed at the thought of his lips touching hers and she scolded herself for her imagination. But when she caught his gaze she knew that he’d been thinking along the same lines, and that flustered her even more.
“Ready?” she asked Noah, tearing her gaze from Rick’s.
“Y-yeah.” He blinked as Laurel’s big wall clock chimed the midnight hour.
“Happy New Year!” Cassie clinked her glass with her son’s. “May it be your best year ever, Noah.”
“Happy N-New Year,” he repeated.
The boys moved around, eager to tap their glasses against everyone else’s. That was how Cassie ended up next to Rick, despite her best efforts.
“Happy New Year, Cassie,” he said softly.
It was only their glasses that made contact, but the effect was the same as if his lips had touched hers. She spilled a few drops of punch on her fingers as she tried to find her voice.
“Happy New Year,” she whispered.
His eyes held hers for a long timeless moment. Finally he turned toward the boys and led them in singing “Auld Lang Syne.” Cassie forced herself to breathe in and out slowly, causing her heart rate to eventually return to normal by the end of his short but fervent prayer asking God to bless each of them in the year ahead.
“Let’s share our resolutions,” Rick said.
“What’s a resolution?” Rod asked.
“Grab your snacks. We’ll sit in the family room,” Laurel said. “Rick can explain.”
Cassie sat on the arm of the sofa beside Noah and waited until everyone had settled, curious to hear what Rick would say.
“Resolutions are plans we make to accomplish specific things in the coming year,” he explained in a solemn tone. “It’s a goal to focus on. For example, my resolution this year is to serve God with all my heart, even when it means sacrificing my own plans.”
Cassie frowned. The way Rick said it made it sound as if he was trying to make up for something. What was her resolution?
“What about you guys? Any idea what you’d like to accomplish in the new year?”
Rod grimaced. “My resolution is to figure out math.”
“That’s a good one,” Rick encouraged. “Hard, but good. Anyone else?”
“Mine is to get another saxophone,” Michael said, his blond curly head tilted to one side.
“You play sax? You and I could brainstorm on that maybe,” Rick offered.
“I’d like that,” he said shyly.
Cassie was surprised Michael had answered at all. According to the file she had on him, he was suffering from depression. He certainly hadn’t volunteered any information previously. It must be Rick who was helping him find his place.
“I’m going to get along better with others this year,” Laurel said.
Soon Rick had coaxed each boy to talk about some plan for the future—everyone except Noah, who’d said only that he’d think about it. Cassie’s heart was still aching from Noah’s withdrawal, so she was not prepared when Rick called her name.
“What’s yours, Cassie?” Rick’s gaze pinned her.
“My resolution?” She blinked in surprise, though she knew she should have expected the question. But what to say?
Like a giant wave, the hurt rolled over