He found himself wanting to offer to take her to the Christmas movie of her choice later in the week. Something with just the two of them. Like a date.

Only he didn’t date—not ever. He wouldn’t chance getting involved. That would mean putting Harrison at risk, and he never went there, not anymore.

Harrison returned with the tickets. They went inside and found seats. They’d barely finished taking off their coats when Noah and two other boys raced over.

“Come sit with us, Harrison,” Noah said eagerly. “We’re all the way up front.”

“Dad, can I?”

“What happened to watching the movie with Reggie?”

Harrison turned to her. “Please?”

“Cast aside for friends. I’m crushed.” She softened the words with a smile. “I’m fine with it if your dad is.”

Toby stood up so Harrison could slip past him and go with his friends. “Come find me as soon as the movie’s over.”

“I will. Thanks, Dad.”

The boys hurried to the front of the theater. He looked at Reggie.

“It’s a Wonderful Life might not have started yet.”

“I’m committed now.” Her smile faded. “Unless you’d rather not sit with me.”

“I appreciate the company. If I’m by myself, then I’m that creepy old guy, alone in a kid’s movie.”

She laughed. “There is that. Does he abandon you a lot?”

“I’m getting used to it. I knew it would happen. I just thought it would be later.”

They stood to let a family into their row. Seats were filling up.

She looked around the theater. “They’ve remodeled this place. The seats are new.”

“Wait until you hear the sound system. It got an upgrade, as well.”

“While I appreciate better sound, one of the things I like about Wishing Tree is how much stays the same. I like the traditions and that I can count on certain things whenever I come home.”

“Do you come back often?” he asked.

She wrinkled her nose. “Yes, although you wouldn’t know it by my recent behavior. Until this trip, I hadn’t been back in over a year.”

“Why?”

“The Jake thing.”

Right. Because Jake had broken her heart.

“I thought there would be a lot of talk and I couldn’t handle it,” she admitted. “Ironically, no one has said a word. Not counting my mother, of course.”

“Do you want me to talk about him, to make you feel better?”

She laughed. “That’s very sweet, but no. I’m good. I just wish I’d come home sooner. I usually make the trip several times a year. I love seeing my folks and Dena. They came to visit me, but it wasn’t the same.”

“You’ve broken the ice, so to speak, so now you won’t have an excuse not to come home.”