Page 29 of Terms and Traditions

But for now, we still had several hours of driving and way too many details to iron out between us. It was time to steer us back into lighter waters. “I saw your picture of Glacier at your place. I didn’t realize you were a photographer.”

Stephanie bristled, her knitting movements becoming jagged and exaggerated. “I’m not.”

“C’mon, Steph, I saw the picture. And don’t even get me started on the engagement session you did for Ben and Liz. You have a gift. Why don’t you use it?”

The clack of needles stopped, and she inhaled sharply. I’d clearly hit a nerve, but why?

“It wasn’t a surefire success plan,” Stephanie said at last, blowing out a breath. “I thought about studying photography and media, but business marketing and administration was a safer venture. Solid job options. Stability. Even if it did feel like I was following in Hiram’s shoes.”

I nodded, tapping my fingers lightly against the wheel, keeping time with the background music, and not totally sure what to say to that. “Do you… miss it? The creative aspect?” I asked once the next song started.

She shifted in her seat, turning to face me. “Why are you asking this?” It wasn’t exactly accusatory, more defensive with a hint of curiosity.

“Well, originally I thought it was a safer conversation than your family, but I evidently stuck my foot in my mouth,” I said with a self-deprecating laugh, which made her mouth twitch in a smile. “But honestly, it’s because you make me curious. I’ve gotten to know a side of you for years. But I want to know more. I want to know what matters to you. What you value. What makes you tick. And you evidently have a passion for photography. I could feel it as a viewer.”

Stephanie’s cheeks flushed as I finished. Maybe I’d said too much, but I wanted honesty between us.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.” She sighed. “I do miss it. Capturing the moment. I want to do it again one day. I just need to be brave enough.” Resuming her knitting, she muttered, “Story of my life these days.”

Now it was truly time for a lighter subject. “Nick, Joe, or Kevin?” I said after “Like It’s Christmas” finished playing.

She stared at me and then burst into laughter. It was music to my ears. Someone should bottle that sound up. It’d be worth millions.

“I honestly never thought about it,” she wheezed. “All of them together is what makes the music sound good. Is this what I get for squeezing one boy band song into a playlist of classics? It wasn’t even me—Liz added it.”

“Keeping you on your toes. Now, what’s our story?”

When she didn’t reply, I stole a glance at her and noticed the pink in her cheeks again. Huh, interesting.

“Well, we should probably stick to the truth. We had mutual friends but didn’t realize it till after I started working for you,” she said slowly. “But we should probably underplay that.”

“How long have we been dating?”

She winced, dropping her head back against the headrest with a thud and a groan. “Nana’s gonna kill me.”

“I didn’t sign up for murder, Steph.”

She laughed again. “It’s just that I talk to her every week. There’s no way I would have kept my dating life from her. So it can’t be too long, or she won’t believe me, but not too short because who brings a week-long boyfriend home for the holidays?” Her voice cracked with tension.

“Well, we’ve been friends for a while,” I said slowly, not wanting to scare her with just how long I’d been interested in her. “Friendship is a good base for any relationship, and once there were sparks, we just knew.”

Stephanie shifted to study me, considering. “That could work. I talk about you often enough.” The subtle pink staining her face shifted to a deep crimson, and it shouldn’t be this appealing. “I mean, you’re my boss. I tell her about work, obviously. So yeah, she should believe that.”

I shouldn’t find her awkwardness so endearing, but this side of Stephanie was so different from what I was used to. It was addicting. “Okay, we wanted to make sure we weren’t just better off as friends before meeting the family. That sound about right?”

She relaxed into the leather seat, sipping from her water bottle. “Yeah. Nana wanted to meet you anyway. This will be my Christmas gift to her.” She snorted. “This, plus the vinyl collection of Shania Twain’s greatest hits.”

We shared a laugh and eased back into the companionable silence. It wasn’t forced or awkward or heavy. It was the kind of quiet where you could sit and just… be. There was no pressure, no uncomfortable tension to break. Just two souls comfortable with the presence of the other. I’d felt this way with her before, but now… it was more poignant.

We stopped at a coffee shop in Missoula for a restroom break, and I finally had the chance to check my phone while I waited for Stephanie. Ryan had come through with a number, thanks to Kelsi, and a demand for answers on why I needed Liz’s number. I’d tell him later. For now, I had a handful of minutes before Stephanie would reappear.

ME

Hi, Liz. This is Nash. I hope you don’t mind that I got your number from Kelsi, but I need your help with a Christmas gift for Stephanie. I wanted to get her something photography related, if you think she wouldn’t hate it?

I wasn’t expecting an immediate reply, but I got one anyway.

LIZ