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“He’s just lost the only person in this world who cared about him. My guess is, even if she wasn’t good at it, your mother was always a constant in his life.”
Luke thought about that.
“I know what you are saying is right. But I’m just trying to find some kind of common ground. Something he wants to do or likes.” Luke looked down the street. Saw the fairy lights strung up and pumpkins lit in the windows of the shops. People wandered up and down the street, and discarded and broken pumpkins were being cleaned up by volunteers.
When they reached Albert’s shop, they looked in the window. Nixon was in there.
“What’s he doing in there?” Luke asked her.
“Buying something, is my guess. Come on, let’s go and see him.”
Nixon was standing beside the cabinet, looking into it. He hadn’t noticed them yet.
“Maybe he wants to be left alone?” Luke whispered.
“Did you want to be left alone?”
He knew what she was asking him. Had he enjoyed the solitude of loneliness when he’d been a child and his brothers were not in the house?
“No.”
She smiled at him, and Luke gave in and leaned into her, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. He then ran a finger gently under her eyes, over the bruises.
“Ouch.”
“Luke. I don’t think you should do that with so many people around.” Quinn’s eyes went left and right.
“I like kissing you.” He did it again. “And right about now, I don’t care if anyone is watching.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She sounded a bit breathless, which told him she’d enjoyed it too.
“Come on, Nixon, I’ll show you how to twist the cinnamon sticks.” Albert’s voice came to them through the open door to the kitchen.
Before they could alert Nixon they were there, he’d disappeared through the opening. Luke looked at Quinn, who shrugged.
“What can I get you?” Philly said. She had a pumpkin on her cheek and a cobweb on her jaw. “You want hot chocolate?” she asked Quinn.
“And one of those berry and chocolate-filled pastries.”
“Two of all that,” he said.
“Nixon is out back with Albert,” the girl said.
“What’s he doing?” Luke asked her.
“Baking.”
“Has he done that before?”
“Twice. He just kind of appeared two days ago. Albert started talking to him and asked if he wanted to see how pastries were made.”
“Huh” was all Luke could manage.
“Come on.” Quinn tugged him to a seat. “We’ll sit here.”
“Can’t I go back and see what’s happening?”
“No. Let him do this. Maybe it’s that thing you wanted to find to connect with him about.”
