"I'm nervous," I admitted as we pulled out to the road in Nathan's father's truck.

Nathan smiled to himself.

"What?" I prodded.

"I've never been with someone where we tell each other what we're feeling. It's nice," he admitted before kissing my forehead. "I'm excited, I think."

"Really?" I didn't mask the surprise in my tone.

"Yeah. I don't know. Having a reason to go home feels good. Plus, the reason is a pretty damn good one."

"You just always know what to say," I teased.

He let out a laugh. "Said no one ever."

"Well, you do a damn good job making me feel special." I sunk deeper into my side.

"You're special. It shouldn't take me to make you feel that way." He spoke almost to himself.

"Mmhmm, precisely what to say."

"Here's something I bet you'll like. You want to stop at the diner for some pie?"

"Really? I thought..."

"It may not be my mom's, but it's her recipe. She'd be stoked that you liked it."

"Can I tell you something?" I sheepishly asked.

"You never need to ask me that; the answer is always yes."

"Yesterday was my first piece of pecan pie," I admitted.

"Ever?"

"Ever," I confirmed.

"What did you have for Thanksgiving?"

"Pumpkin." I shrugged.

"I pecan pie-less life. Thank God you found me when you did." His hand slipped to my knee and squeezed.

"I was adrift," I giggled.

"Clearly," he agreed. "Don't jump down. It's slick out there. I'll help you."

"I'm choosing to take this as gentlemanly and not that you think I'm a helpless girl," I teased when he opened my door.

"I do not think you are a helpless girl. I know you're a klutz, and ice is your nemesis," he joked back as he tapped my cast.

"Well, it's hard to argue with facts," I begrudgingly agreed.

"So, I recall a lifelong wish to sit at a small-town diner counter," Nathan began as he held the door for me.

"Yes, and someday, I hope to order by just saying 'the usual.'"

"Well, it's good to have goals," Nathan nodded.

The bell chimed above us, making me smile as my nose filled with smells of coffee and bacon.

"I love this place," I murmured.

Nathan dipped his face to mine and gave me a soft kiss. "I love that you love this place."

"Are you sure you don't want to hide in a booth?"

"And deprive my girl of her lifelong dream; never."

"Hey," Lee's voice rose above the other noise of the restaurant.

"Hey," Nathan and I said in unison as our eyes fell on a booth with Nathan and Shelly.

"Hey." Shelly gave us an awkward wave to us.

"Hey," we both said in unison again.

"I didn't know you guys were coming here," Lee babbled. "Join us?"

"No, I've got a girl that wants to sit at the counter and eat a piece of pie." Nathan's hand fell to the small of my back.

"Oh, yeah. Of course. You two have fun," Lee smiled.

We settled onto stools and huddled close to each other.

"So, Lee and Shelly... are they?" I began.

"Yeah, it would appear they're definitely a they," Nathan agreed.

"Lee didn't say anything?" I prodded.

"No." Nathan slid a menu in front of me.

"And how do you feel about it?" I pressed.

Nathan took a deep breath and glanced at the booth where Lee and Shelly were chatting. I expected him to snap his face back quickly, but instead, he lingered, and a smile crossed his face.

"I'm good with it. They look happy." He shrugged.

"Nat, you're back!" Mrs. O'Hare beamed. "And Ana, it's nice to see you again. What will you have?"

"Coffee, and this one wants the pie," Nathan smiled as his hand slipped to my knee.

"Coffee and pie for the lady. What about you, hun?" Mrs. O'Hare lingered.

"You guys still make those breakfast sandwiches on the biscuits?" Nathan asked.

"Of course. You want bacon or ham?"

"Bacon, always bacon."

"One bacon, egg, and cheese coming right up." Before she turned, she gave me a wink that made me chuckle.

"Well, I think she likes you," Nathan teased.

"Great, at least someone around here does."

"What? Mrs. Smyth loves you, and Joe seemed to enjoy your adventure yesterday. Plus, I don't know if you recall, but there's one guy in the town that's head over heels in love with you."

"Really? Who?" I looked around the diner.

"So funny," Nathan groaned as he swiveled my stool so I was looking at him again.

"I love you too." I smiled as I leaned in for a soft kiss.

"Okay, so my house is just around the corner. We eat and then..." Nathan was ordering his thoughts.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" I questioned.

"Yeah, this is what I need. I want you to see the place."

"Okay," I smiled.

We quickly ate and gave passing goodbyes to Lee and Shelly before heading out to the truck.

"Lee seems different here," I noted as we pulled onto Main Street.

"Yeah, he's not famous here. He's just the goofball that streaked at homecoming."

"No way," I laughed.

"Oh, yeah," Nathan nodded. "So, this is the house," he added as he pulled up to the curb in front of a tidy ranch.

"Really?" I smiled.

"Yep, that cape was the Smyth's before Lee built the new compound," Nathan explained.

"It's so cute. I love it so much. Look at the yard!"

"The yard," Nathan laughed. "You've got to get out of the city more."

"Tell me about it," I agreed. "So, do you want to go in?"

Nathan looked over at the house. "Yeah, let's go in, but..." His words dropped out.

"But," I prodded at his reluctance.

"You can't make fun of my baby pictures." He cracked a smile at his joke.

"No deal," I nudged him.

"Remember, stay in the truck, and I'll help you."

"Yes, sir," I mocked him, but he ignored me.

Nathan lifted me from the truck and again placed me on the ground.

"I'm thinking you're less worried about me falling and just like doing that," I accused.

"Guilty; any opportunity to put my arms around you." He smiled as he leaned in and softly kissed me.

There are moments when things click. Some call it déjà vu, but I think it's just a moment where the universe gives you a thumbs up. I felt the pull as I watched Nathan unlock the front door.

"Ready?" Nathan held out a hand to me, and the draw was even stronger.

"Yep," I said as I grasped his hand.

"Here we go," he said as he sucked in a deep breath.

We stepped into the living room. It was sleek, but with a 50s vibe.

"Is that a jukebox?" I smiled.

"Yeah, my mom loved 45s," Nathan explained.

"That's so rad," I smiled.

"Is it? Is it rad, Ana?"

"Yeah, bordering on tubular," I extended.

"So, living room," Nathan murmured as we entered.

"Pictures." My eyes gleamed as I approached the mantle.

"Be nice," Nathan requested.

My eyes fell on a family photo with Nathan in a graduation cap and gown. It must have been high school. His mother had Nathan's coloring. They shared chocolate brown hair with equally kind eyes. His dad was tall and thin, just like Nathan.

"Your mom was so beautiful," I whispered.

"They were prom king and queen," Nathan offered. "As I said, 80% marry their prom date; my parents were no different. They were happy, though. I was embarrassed back then," he noted, as he let a finger glide over the picture. "Now, I guess I'm just envious."

I gasped as I continued to look over the photos. "Is this baby Nathan? You were so cute," I exclaimed as I looked at a picture of Nathan, no older than three, curled up on a couch asleep with a blanket clutched in his chubby little hands.

"My mom loved that picture." He smiled as a hand slipped to my waist. "We had gone to the lake that morning, and apparently, I had completely tired myself out chasing the ducks. It's funny because, at some point between that day and now, I developed a massive fear of ducks."

"Ducks? Like Donald Duck?" I teased.

"No, not animated ducks. Real asshole ducks that bite. Have you seen the ducks in the park in New York? I'd rather face a mugger than those little bastards."

"You probably don't have many muggers here." I smiled as I rested my head on his shoulder and continued gazing at the pictures.

"No, I think the last crime wave we had was when the Baker boy became a klepto."

"Really?" The idea of a thief in Palmyra shocked me.

"Oh yeah, he hit the grocery store, feed store, and even the sporting goods store before we caught him."

"Wow, what happened to him?"

"Well, he was five, so I'd assume he was sent to his room," Nathan smiled.

"Harsh," I agreed.

"Come on; I'll show you the rest of the place." Nathan led me through an archway to the kitchen. "This was where my mom spent most of her time. She loved to cook and bake. She used to make all the baked goods for the diner."

"I love how bright it is." The backsplash was white, and the walls were a muted aqua that pulled in the light.

"That shade of blue was my mom's favorite color," Nathan offered before ushering me forward. "So, dining room and then down this hallway are the two bedrooms and the bathroom. This one, he pushed open a door, was my room."

I stepped in and was transported to Nathan's youth. Posters of bands and athletes decorated the wall, and an old laptop still sat on his desk. I moved the look at the photos stuck in the mirror above his bureau. There were a few of him and Shelly smiling at the camera and some of him and young Lee.

"Lee hasn't changed that much, has he?" I giggled.

"Don't tell him that." Nathan's hands found my waist again as he rested his head on my shoulder and gazed at us in the mirror.

"Are you ready for your parent's room?" I asked.

I felt his chest rise with the intake of his breath. "Yeah," he exhaled.

I let him lead me there. He slowly pushed open the door to their room, but paused in the doorway.

"I never came in here much as a kid; it just felt like their private space," he murmured.

"Yeah, I was the same with my dad's room."

Nathan slipped in and glanced around the space before slumping onto the bed.

"I'll give you a minute," I offered before I headed back to the kitchen.

I leaned against the kitchen counter. My eyes gazed through the archway to the living room. I could see it all; where the Christmas tree would look best, toys from kids strewn over the floor. For a minute, I could almost hear their giggles mingle with a song from the silent jukebox. I was there in the middle of a life that returned this house to a home.

"Hey," Nathan said from the doorway. "This room suits you," he smiled. "I didn't think anyone would fit in this kitchen like my mom did, but here you are."

"It's such a beautiful place. I can see why your parents moved here." I smiled.

"I can still feel them here, but as you said, it doesn't feel sad." He smiled back at me.

"That's because this place is so full of life. It's not done living yet," I offered.

"Mmhmm, there's certainly a life to be had here."

"I almost don't want to leave," I admitted.

"You've got school and a life in New York," he reminded me as my daydreams slipped away.

"Yeah," but I didn't bother to mask my disappointment.

We rode in silence back to Lee's house. When Nathan pulled the truck to a halt, he let a hand slip to my knee.

"You okay?" He whispered.

"Yeah. Weirdly, I miss your parents even though I never met them. That house; it was just so..."

"Yeah, avoiding it wasn't the right thing. I needed to go back there. It helped." Nathan pulled me to his side. "Thank you for coming," he murmured.

"Thank you for sharing with me." I sighed.

"Did going there make you sad?" He gently prodded.

"What? No." I met his gaze. "Leaving made me sad. It felt like leaving my home."

"Don't worry; it'll be there when we're ready." He smiled and gently kissed my forehead, spreading warmth throughout my entire body.

"Yeah, when we're ready," I agreed.