Page 48 of The Friendship Pact

Nick shuffled papers on his desk.

“Sorry about that,” Ethan said. “Owen, Pete, me, and hopefully you. Cole and Zeke can’t make it tonight. If you can join us, meet us at my house. You can use my trail sled.”

The thought of avoiding Kate and hanging out with his friends made Nick relax back into his chair. “I’m in if nothing major happens around here.”

“Great. Hope to see you at five.”

* * *

Nick had a stop to make before heading home to change into his snow gear and grab his helmet.

He pulled up in front of his family’s century-old white clapboard farmhouse. The old homestead sat on a small wooded lot overlooking the Deer Creek Lodge and Balsam Lake. After his grandparents passed, back when he was in high school, his parents took the home down to its studs and remodeled.

He parked his truck in the driveway, knocked on the door twice, and entered. “Dad, you here?”

“In the den!”

Nick followed the smell of freshly baked bread into the kitchen. He stopped and confiscated a slice of cranberry orange bread before entering the cozy and masculine den. His dad sat relaxing in his favorite leather recliner.

“Hi, Dad.” Nick popped the rest of the bread in his mouth and sat down opposite his dad.

“This is a nice surprise,” his dad said. “I see you found the bread Mom made. It’s one of Kate’s recipes. Supposed to be healthy.”

“It’s good.”

“I agree. But I’m guessing you don’t want to talk about my dietary restrictions. What brings you by? Your mom didn’t send you over, did she?”

“No. I haven’t talked to her today. How are you doing?”

“Besides your mother hovering and eliminating all sugar from the house?”

Nick chuckled. “Yeah. Besides that.”

“I’m feeling stronger every day. I can’t wait until I’m cleared for work again.” Jim picked up the television remote and shut the TV off. “What’s on your mind, son?”

Father radar. At least that’s what Nick’s siblings called their father’s intuition. He always knew when they had something on their minds.

“This somber mood of yours doesn’t have anything to do with a certain brunette, does it?” his dad asked.

“Yes, and no,” Nick said. Where did he start? “I got chastised by the mayor this morning.”

“That’ll do it. For what?”

“I took away Sawyer’s stun gun and forgot to re-certify him.”

“I suppose Sawyer cried to his uncle.”

“I don’t know, maybe. He’s right, I had forgotten.”

“What else did that twerp say to have you so upset you come visit your old man on your night off?”

“He questioned my abilities as sheriff. He thinks my head is somewhere else, not in my commitment to serve this town.”

“That’s bullshit, and you know it. Don’t let him get under your skin.”

“But—”

“But nothing. Your job is not your life. With responsibility like yours comes the need for balance. Don’t let your career impede your personal life. Your mom and I are in the service industry, yet we have raised four successful and well-adjusted children while making time for each other. If you like Kate, which I think you do, don’t waste any more time. Tell her how you feel.”