Don't Promise (Don't 3)

“Well, we’ve hit all the spark plugs. I can’t imagine what else it could be?”

“There’s a reason the engine’s not running. Let’s take another look after lunch.” Cole sat at the seat opposite my father.

“There she is. How was your trip, pumpkin?” Dad grinned.

“Good,” I answerd.

Cole’s eyes lit up when I sat next to him and I felt his hand squeeze my leg under the table. “I heard you had to make some deliveries for your mom. Everything go ok? Are you ok?” he whispered.

“Mmmhmm.” I nodded.

“Lunch is ready.” My mother announced, and placed a platter on the table. “Kaitlyn, do you want to help me with the luminaries after lunch? I have the bags of sand in the garage and the paper bags ready to go.”

“Sure. No problem.”

Our neighborhood always lined the streets with white paper luminaries every Christmas Eve. It was the responsibility of each neighbor to distribute their own and clean up the next day, but they were beautiful when they were all lit.

“What about the Turnwells? Do you think I should ask if they need help?” I hadn’t been by to visit Miss Peg like I promised Mr. Turnwell. My time was dwindling and I needed to make a trip across the street to see her.

“That sounds like a good idea. We can make a big assembly line and knock them both out.” My mom seemed pleased with the plan.

“I’ll help you too, darlin’.” Cole shoved a forkful of ham on his plate.

“Thanks.” My eyes locked on his. There it was again. That look I remembered from Sasha’s wedding. The one that caught me off guard, but at the same time felt like home. In one short week Cole had shown me that he was more a part of my life than ever before. We were building something together. I blinked back a tear that was fighting its way to the surface.

It would give us a chance to talk.

“I haven’t done the luminaries in years. I’ll help out too,” Ryan added.

I shot my brother a death stare.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I grumbled. My twin news would have to wait.

After lunch, Cole left my dad and Ryan with another angle to try for the bike and he and I walked to the Turnwells. Most of the snow had melted to mush. We needed a nice arctic blast to roll through and snow us in for the night.

I knocked on the door.

“Kaitlyn. So good to see you. Merry Christmas.” Mr. Turnwell stood holding the door open.

“Merry Christmas to you, too. Mr. Turnwell, this is my boyfriend, Cole.” It was nice not to have to introduce him as Ryan’s friend, but I wanted to say fiancée.

Cole extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

“Likewise. Come on in you two. Peg will be so glad to see you.”

We followed him through the foyer and into the great room. Peg was wrapped in a blanket on the couch near a roaring fire. She placed the book she was reading in her lap.

“Kaitlyn, so good to see you. I thought I heard your voice at the door.”

I crossed the room to give her a hug. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by sooner.” I sat

in a chair next to her. “Miss Peg, this is my boyfriend, Cole.” He walked closer to us, smiled, and took the frail woman’s hand in his.

“I’ve heard a lot of great stories about you ma’am. It’s nice to meet you.”

I thought I saw Miss Peg blush. I knew the feeling. Cole had that effect on women, especially if you made the mistake of looking directly into those piercing eyes.