The Memory Keeper of Kyiv (59)

“Come on in.” She took one step back to let him in, but it felt like she’d jumped off a bridge into an icy river.

“I figured a shorter bouquet would be easier for Birdie to enjoy,” he said. “Where is she?”

“Nick!” Birdie ran down the hall and jumped into his arms. “I missed you!”

“Hey there! I missed you too!” He caught her easily and swung her around, the tiny, forgotten bouquet crushed between his hand and her side. Birdie’s squeals of delight filled the room.

“Are those pretty flowers for me?” Birdie asked as he set her down.

Nick kneeled next to her and straightened the squished flowers, then presented them with a flourish. “Pretty flowers for a pretty girl.”

Cassie smiled at their easy banter while Birdie led Nick into the kitchen to put her flowers in water.

“She’s crazy about him, isn’t she?” Anna said as she came back in the living room.

Cassie nodded, trying to sort through the myriad of confusing feelings coursing through her. Excitement, fear, hope, happiness. It was all too much. She started to hyperventilate.

“You okay?” Anna asked. “I know you think I pushed you to do this, but you need it.”

“What are you, a shrink now?” Cassie’s voice shook as she drew in a shaky breath.

“No, I’m just your mom. I know you.” Anna tucked a lock of Cassie’s hair back behind her ear as Nick and Birdie came back into the room.

“Are you ladies ready?” Nick held out an arm for Birdie to take.

“Yeah!” she squealed. “Let’s go to the carnival!”





Muggy summer air suffocated them as they wandered through the rides and games set up in the grade school parking lot. Cassie, never one to pick style over comfort, now had her hair tied in a loose ponytail. Still, she fanned herself with the flyer she’d grabbed on the way in and regretted not wearing shorts.

“We can try the Ferris wheel,” Nick said. “Maybe if we get up, away from the crowd, we’ll catch a breeze.”

Cassie agreed as Birdie began to chant, “Ferris wheel! Ferris wheel!”

So far, Nick had bought her a corn dog, a lemon shake-up, and a funnel cake. Cassie had suggested a food and spinning ride break after the funnel cake, as she didn’t want to see it all come back up.

‘Sorry.” Nick smiled sheepishly. “It’s fun to see how excited she gets. I love seeing this place through her eyes.”

“I know.” Cassie softened and grinned. “It’s great to see her so happy. But, if she pukes everywhere, she won’t be happy anymore. And trust me, we won’t be either.”

“Hey, Nick!” a woman called out to him as they passed the Fun House. She waved and made a kissy face with her bright pink lips. “Haven’t seen you around lately!”

Nick blushed and waved back without stopping. “Hey, Denise. Just keeping busy, you know.”

Denise gave Cassie the once over and, after a little smirk, turned back to Nick. “Well, don’t be a stranger. You know where I live.”

She shot Nick another kissy face that made Cassie want to vomit more than any spinning rides or funnel cakes ever could.

“She seems friendly.” Surprised at the punch of jealousy to her gut, Cassie fought to keep her voice steady.

“Sorry about that. She’s an old friend.” Nick gave a pained grimace but didn’t explain further.

Cassie bit her lip and tamped down her retort. Why should she care if Nick was close with another woman? She had no right.

“Can we do the Ferris wheel now?” Birdie asked.

Cassie pasted a smile on her face. “That’s a good idea, little bird. Let’s do that.”





That night, after Birdie had had her fill of all things carnival, and two more women had approached Nick to tell them they missed seeing him around, Nick walked them to their door.

“Thank you for a lovely evening, ladies,” he said as he bowed toward Birdie. “It’s been my pleasure.”

Birdie giggled and threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Nick!”

Cassie opened the door, and Birdie ran inside, calling out for Anna. Cassie sighed, then turned and faced Nick. “Thanks. I had a nice time.”

“I did, too.” He hesitated. “I’m sorry about Denise. She was a long time ago, but she seems to keep popping up when I least expect it.”

“Jan and Tiffany, too?” Cassie’s eyebrows raised.

He blushed and started to stammer another apology.

Cassie held up a hand to stop him. “It’s all right. We all have a past, don’t we?” She dropped her hand and twirled the ring on her left ring finger.

“We do. But I like to look toward the future.” Nick’s voice came out low and husky. He ran the back of his knuckles down the side of her face. She instinctively tensed, then softened at the feel of his rough hand gently touching her cheek. “Good night, Cassie.”





“Well, how was it?” Anna pounced on Cassie as soon as Birdie was all cleaned up and tucked in. “Did you have fun? Come have some tea with us.”

“It was nice.” Cassie sat down and inhaled the sweet herbal scent of the bedtime tea her mother set in front of her.