177
My new friendship with Nova was going really well. Abigail and Alexis became inseparable, best friends and sometimes maybe even twins. We did a lot of things together and I learnt more about Nova. She could paint, sketch, make pottery, jewelry and decorate. She was infinitely positive and cheery and had a sense of humour.
We’d spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together and celebrated the new year together with the kids all sleeping in the living room in front of the fireplace and Nova and I talking until the wee hours of the morning.
“Are you planning anything special for Valentine’s day?” Mary-Joe asked me.
It was the first week of February, the weather was cold but getting better and some snow was predicted. I insisted on picking Alexis up for school even though they lived within walking distance, I didn’t want them to walk when it snowed.
“Why would I?” I asked her.
“Because it’s Nova’s birthday,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
“On Valentine’s?” I asked her.
“Uh huh,” she replied.
“You like her don’t you?” I asked.
“Everybody likes her,” she said.
“I like her too,” I said.
“How much longer are you going to try and hide it from yourself?”
“Hide what?”
“That you might be in love with her,” she said.
“Mary-Joe …”
“It’s been five and a half years Ryder, you’re allowed to be happy,” she said.
“She’s human,” I said.
“So’s half of Hartwell,” she said.
“It’s complicated,” I said.
“You’re making it complicated.”
“Am I? If I make a move I’m essentially asking her to take on three more kids, deal with the supernatural and she might not even feel the same way,” I said.
“She feels the same way, trust me.”
“Why are you pushing this?” I asked her.
“Because if I don’t you might end up getting trapped by someone like Lindy that you’ll resent within a few weeks because you won’t be happy. You’re an all or nothing kind of man and trust me on this as well, you don’t want another Lindy in your life,” she said.
“No, I don’t,” I said.
“Stop wasting time before some other man finds her and you’ve lost your chance,” she said.
It had taken about five weeks for me to realize that I was falling in love with her. We’d been friends for six months now and I had also been celibate for six months. Later that afternoon I made reservations for us and had the heart to heart with Abeloth.
“What do you think big guy?” I asked him.
“It’s time Ryder. You will always love Megan, but she’s dead and so is Kaida. We were blessed to have them and they gave us two beautiful children and in the realm of dragons we’ll be reunited when we die, but it’s not our time yet.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect them,” I said.
“It was their time,” he said and retreated.
I walked down to the lake and sat down at the dock. I looked around and another idea hit me. I cancelled the reservations and Abeloth perked up a little bit. He had made peace with me pursuing Nova.
“This is Lucas,” he answered his phone.
“This is Ryder,” I said.
“Asshole.”
“Miss you too Dad,” I said as he chuckled.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, quiet and peaceful on the southern front,” I said.
“What’s on your mind? I get the feeling you’re struggling with something,” he said.
“I met someone,” I said.
“Tell me.”
“Her name’s Nova. She has a daughter Abby’s age. She gets along with everyone, the boys like her, I like her,” I said.
“You more than like her otherwise you wouldn’t be calling me,” he said.
“Okay fine, I more than like her,” I said.
“And just in time for Valentine’s,” he said.
“Which also happens to be her birthday,” I said.
“Follow your heart Ry, it’s never let you down before,” he said.
“She’s human,” I said.
“Shit Ry, you could’ve started with that,” he said and I smiled.
“Which is why I didn’t,” I said.
“So tell her, either she runs or she doesn’t,” he said.
“Have you heard anything from Romania?” I asked him.
“Nope, all quiet. The King’s busy doing what he does best, sit on his lazy ass and shouts orders to his underlings. The murder case on the Florida Elders is still open, nothing new there.”
“Thanks for keeping an ear on the ground,” I said.
“I’d move heaven and earth for you,” he said.
“So will I,” I said.
“Okay enough soppy shit, we’ll probably come for a visit during next month, I’m just knee deep in this new hotel venture with Jasper, but after that, I’m all yours for three weeks,” he said.
“Oh great,” I said and laughed.
“Asshole.”
“Love you too Dad,” I said and ended the call.
I had arranged with Nova for Alexis to spend the night with us, sleep over and all that shit little girls did. Mary-Joe would watch the kids while I took Nova out, which she didn’t know about yet. Maybe I was going a little overboard but it was a big night for me. I’d never done this before and I was nervous.
It was Friday morning and I smiled as my phone rang and I saw Nova’s name displayed on the screen. “Grey,” I answered.
“Hi, it’s me … Nova,” she said.
“Oh hey Nova,” I said.
“You’re such an idiot, why did you send me a bunch of flowers and a dress?” she asked.
“Because we’re going out tonight, Mary-Joe is watching the kids,” I said.
“Why are we going out?”
“Because it’s Valentine’s day and we’re both single …”
“Who says I’m single?”
“You’re single, I would’ve known if you weren’t,” I said confidently.
“Fine, I’m single,” she said.
“Also it’s your birthday, so extra points for me,” I said.
“Where are we going?” she asked me.
“It’s a surprise, someplace nice, so best manners for tonight,” I said.
“Am I getting food on this outing?”
“Of course you’re getting food, you become half psychotic if you don’t eat within ten minutes of being hungry,” I said.
“I do not,” she protested.
“Yeah you kinda do,” I said.
“Why are you single on Valentine’s day?” she asked me.
“Have you seen the amount of Lindy lookalikes in this town these days?” I said as she laughed.
“Fair point,” she said.
“Enjoy the day, I also booked you in at the spa at ten.”
“Ryder, this is really one of the best birthdays so far,” she said.
“Happy birthday Nova, I’ll see you at seven,” I said.
“See you later,” she said and ended the call.
Simon looked at me and shook his head as we continued putting up the plastic shading that now covered the roofed dock. Next I put up the fairy lights as Simon constructed a bonfire pit for us. Mary-Joe was busy with a picnic dinner and I had champagne, wine and beer on ice.
Simon had been helping me all week to turn the dock into a romantic picnic spot. I had a low table near the fire pit where we’d eat and cushions on the other side with blankets, which would come in handy if everything went according to plan.
“She won’t be able to resist all this,” Simon remarked.
“You think?”
“I know,” he said.
“Thanks for all your help Simon, I really appreciate it,” I said.
“You’re a good man Mr Ryder and Miss Nova’s a good woman,” he said.
“You’re a good man too,” I said.
“Alright, plug those ladies in, let’s see if those lights work,” he said.
“Perfect.”
It was going to be perfect, I hoped. The nerves settled back in and before I knew it, it was time to go get Nova and hopefully surprise the hell out of her tonight.
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