Page 4 of Forged (The Art of Love #4)

FOUR

For the next week, Nick couldn’t get Bax out of his head. He’d been anxious about losing much-needed sculpting time to Robert’s insistence that everyone at Hawthorne House should spend the day pretending to be a medieval peasant, but thanks to Bax, he’d had a lot of fun. He’d been well aware that Bax had been teasing him with the stories he’d made up, but strangely, Nick didn’t mind.

Those fun and games weren’t the reason Nick couldn’t shake Bax off for the next few days, though. As he fed the kids supper once they’d returned from his mum’s, bathed them, then tucked them into bed, he worried that Bax was sitting across the hall in his generic family flat feeling alone. As he took a moment to play with the kids the next day, he hoped that Bax had someone to make him smile and laugh. As the week wore on and he instructed his class in a few more advanced techniques for creating balustrades, he found himself wondering if Bax was sitting by himself in one of Hawthorne House’s unused offices or if he had company while he reviewed the arts center’s books.

It all boiled down to those text messages Bax had received when the two of them had been standing there after filming. Nick might not have been the most savvy person on the planet when it came to emotions, but he knew sadness and disappointment when he saw it. Bax had lost a load of friends all at once, and as cheery and cheeky as he seemed most of the time, Nick could see that it bothered him.

He was concerned about his friend feeling alone and unloved, that was all. It was the same concern Raina had had for him when she’d approached him at uni and invited him out for drinks with a few of her friends.

Of course, it wasn’t exactly like that. He’d ended up marrying Raina. That definitely wouldn’t happen with Bax. Bax wasn’t his type at all. Bax was a man, for one, and he wasn’t attracted to?—

That train of thought was cut completely short as he glanced up from his work in the forge and spotted Bax jogging along the path that ran through the Renaissance Faire village. It was early in the morning on the Saturday after the filming day and Nick was up early and working on the unicorn. The forge was hot, so he’d rolled some of the canvas sides up to ventilate the area a bit better, which gave him a beautiful view of the surrounding vistas. It was still January and chilly, but the weather had warmed up a tiny bit.

That was probably why Bax was jogging in shorts, his pink legs exposed to the elements. He wore a long-sleeved shirt that was already a bit sweaty and clinging to his torso, which told Nick he’d been out running for a while. He really was fit for an accountant. That wasn’t the first morning Nick had seen him out jogging or walking around the estate early in the morning. He was reasonably certain the way Bax always went outside before dawn every day had something to do with his faith, but he hadn’t asked about it.

As soon as Bax jogged out of his view, Nick started. He hadn’t realized he’d been staring. He hadn’t realized the sight of Bax jogging was something worth staring at. Bax was objectively handsome, though. There was nothing unusual about noticing an objectively handsome man.

Except once again, he couldn’t shake Bax from his thoughts as he finished some of the fine details of his unicorn head and set his work aside. Maybe Bax was running from something. Maybe he needed someone to run after him and let him know everything would be okay, that life went on after loss. Nick knew all about that.

He forced himself to concentrate on cleaning up the forge and securing the fires so they would be ready later, if he could find the time to come back and work. He needed to get back up to the house and see to his kids. His sister-in-law Rebecca was looking out for them at the moment, but she had to go out, most of the other Hawthornes were busy that weekend, and he couldn’t keep relying on his mum to do his parenting for him. Besides, he wanted to be a good dad, and a good dad prioritized his kids over his art.

He was adamant about that, but it didn’t stop him from glancing wistfully back over his shoulder at the pieces of his unicorn before leaving the forge and treading back up to the house.

“Daddy! Daddy!” The kids were full of energy and greeted him enthusiastically once he made it back to his flat.

“Alright?” he greeted them with a laugh, picking Jordan up when he charged right into his leg. “Let Daddy have a shower before you go throwing yourself at me.”

“Daddy, I want crumpets and jam,” Jordan told him.

“You can have crumpets and jam,” he said, his heart filling with love for the simple wishes of his babies.

“Um, no they can’t,” Rebecca said, coming out of the kitchen with Macy in her arms. “You’re out, love. You’re out of almost everything. When was the last time you went shopping?”

Nick answered with a sigh. Buying groceries was one more thing that seemed to fall through the cracks as he tried to juggle all the balls. Delivery services didn’t like to go all the way out to Hawthorne House either.

“I guess we know what we’re doing today,” he told Jordan. “Just let Daddy shower first.”

Jordan hugged him then squirmed to get down. Rebecca was alright with staying an extra fifteen minutes as he cleaned himself up, but that was it. He raced through his shower and dressing, then dove into full dad mode.

That was how Bax found him several minutes later, as he carried both kids out into the hall, dragging Macy’s buggy behind him with one foot. Bax had just come out of his flat as well, looking freshly showered himself and smelling like heaven.

“We have to stop meeting like this,” Bax said with pretend seriousness, as if they were conducting some sort of secret affair, which was ridiculous, instead of doing normal, everyday things with kids in tow.

He laughed anyhow as he adjusted his hold on Macy to stop her from slipping out of his arms. “We should meet down at the forge where it’s quiet and cozy more often, then,” he joked right back.

It didn’t feel like a joke, though. He wasn’t sure what it felt like. He didn’t want to examine why he’d said it too closely.

Fortunately, Bax laughed. “Do you need help?” he asked, holding out his hands like he would take one of the kids.

“We’re just going to Sainsbury’s to stock up,” Nick said, pulling the buggy around so he could deposit Macy in it, which was a feat of incredible dexterity, considering he had Jordan in his other arm.

Jordan took advantage of the movement to slither out of Nick’s hold and to make a beeline straight through the open door into Bax’s flat.

“Jordan, come back,” Nick called after him.

“Hold on there, little tyke,” Bax laughed, rushing after Jordan. “Just where do you think you’re going?”

He managed to catch a giggling Jordan and bring him back into the hall, shutting the door behind him. Jordan had no fear in general and seemed to take to Bax immediately.

That did things to Nick’s insides that he definitely wanted to avoid.

“I, er, wouldn’t say no if you wanted to carry him downstairs and help me get him into the car,” Nick said, fighting not to be bashful about it.

“I’ll come along and help with the shopping trip, if you’d like,” Bax offered as they all started down the hall.

“Don’t you have something grown-up and important to do?” Nick asked, pushing Macy’s buggy.

Bax shrugged. “Not really. I was actually going to head out to the shops myself. We can kill two birds with one stone.”

Bax grinned at Jordan then turned to smile at Nick as they started down the stairs, carrying the buggy as they went.

That smile felt like comfort personified to Nick. It was so genuine and so freely given. And for a change, it wasn’t filled with sympathy or pity. Far too many people had treated Nick like being a widower was the central focus of his existence now and it just wasn’t.

Piling the kids into the car and making certain everyone was secured in their car seats pushed away any thoughts except the practical. Once everyone was secured, Bax was seated in the passenger’s seat beside him, and they were on their way into town, Nick was too busy focusing on fighting weekend traffic while singing along to the kids’ music he put on to think about how nice it was to have Bax with them for the errand. And once they reached Sainsbury’s parking lot and had to get the kids out and organize buggies, there wasn’t time to feel anything but grateful he had Bax along to help with the chaos.

“I never did trust the big Sainsbury’s,” Bax said as they started up the aisle between the food and the clothing sections, Macy sitting in the buggy—which earned him a few disapproving looks from his fellow shoppers—and Jordan holding his hand as he walked.

“Why not?” Nick laughed, pausing to grab a few boxes of kids’ snacks that were on sale. The Hawthorne family might have supported him by offering a home and occasional childcare, but he was still trying to raise two kids on an artist’s income.

“It’s all just so…commercial,” Bax said, making a face at a flashy display of Valentine’s Day candy that had already been set up.

Nick laughed. “It’s commercial because this is commerce,” he said. “And the big store is perfect, because you can get everything you need in one trip.”

Bax hummed, then sighed, “I suppose so.”

Nick grinned at him, certain Bax was having a go at him with his pretend stuffiness. He would have found a way to keep the banter going if Jordan hadn’t yanked his hand away and gone charging after a shelf of soft toys that was part of the Valentine’s Day display.

That was how the pandemonium started. Jordan went off like a shot, Bax chasing after him. Macy was riled up by the sudden activity and tried to stand in the buggy. That caused one of the employees to come over and lecture him on how children were not allowed to ride in the buggies.

Bax caught Jordan, but since Nick now had to lift Macy and carry her around, they were both short on hands to push the buggy and put much-needed supplies in it.

When they headed down the veg aisle and Nick grabbed a few bags of salad, Jordan shouted, “No! Ick!” and flailed in Bax’s arms. Bax wasn’t used to managing a three-year-old and got too close to a display of sacks of potatoes. Jordan grabbed at one of them and had just enough strength to upset the balance, sending potatoes spilling everywhere.

That had the same employee who had yelled at him about letting Macy ride in the buggy chasing after them with hellfire in her eyes. Nick couldn’t help but mutter, “It wouldn’t have happened if kids could ride in the buggies,” before racing to get out of the veg section entirely.

Once they were a few aisles over, Bax burst into laughter. “Did you just tell a store employee off?” he asked, shifting Jordan to his other arm.

Nick blushed and admitted, “Yeah, I did.”

That sent Bax into more laughter, which had Jordan laughing along with him.

It should have been a frustrating and embarrassing moment, but Nick’s heart felt light. He loved seeing his kids happy, even if they were chaotic when enjoying themselves. He loved the sound of Bax’s laughter, too. Something about seeing both Bax and his babies happy, happy and together, filled him with emotions that he couldn’t quite name, but that made him feel like everything would be alright.

Those good feelings stayed with them for a few minutes and they actually managed to accomplish some serious shopping. It wasn’t exactly like things had been with Raina. That had been a very different sort of relationship. But the closeness Nick was beginning to feel to Bax touched a spot within him that had been empty since Raina’s death.

They’d almost found everything they needed and were just turning the corner of the last aisle when Nick came close to ramming his cart into…his mum?

“Mum? What are you doing here?” he asked, suddenly tense. He glanced quickly at Bax, like he’d somehow done something wrong.

His mum looked at Bax as well, then stepped forward to take Jordan out of his arms.

“Hello, dear,” she said, meaning Nick. She settled Jordan in her arms but only smiled at him for a moment before going on with, “I do occasionally shop for groceries as well, you know.”

“Of course,” Nick said. He shifted around the end of the cart so that he could kiss his mum’s cheek. Macy squirmed and fussed like she wanted to go to Granny, but his mum mostly ignored her.

“Baxter, isn’t it?” she asked Bax.

“It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Turner,” Bax said, smiling as openly as he usually did.

“Did my son rope you into childcare?” she asked with the wry sense of humor she had.

Fortunately, Bax heard the question for what it was and laughed. “It just so happened that I needed a few things as well,” he said. “Nick, Jordan, and Macy graciously allowed me to tag along.”

“Well, as long as my son didn’t push you into anything you don’t want,” his mum answered.

Nick frowned slightly, no idea what she meant by that. “Bax has been a real help. The kids are restless this morning.”

“Well of course they are, dear,” his mum said, smiling at Jordan. “It’s a Saturday morning. Children are always restless on Saturday mornings. They should be at home with their toys and someone to mind them.”

Every muscle in Nick’s back went tense. “They don’t have to stay at home,” he argued. “Kids are portable, after all.”

“And they need stimulation,” Bax added, nodding at Nick.

Before he could think about it, Nick nodded back with a grateful half-smile.

His mum noted the exchange and pursed her lips as she studied the two of them. “Do you have children, Baxter?” she asked.

“Oh, no,” Bax answered with a laugh. “I’ve never been much of a family man.”

For some reason, those words hit Nick wrong. “You’re good with them, though,” he said.

Bax shrugged. “They’re good kids.”

“Are you married, Baxter?” Nick’s mum asked, like it was a deeper iteration of the question she’d just asked.

Nick was mortified, especially when Bax lost his smile and stood a little straighter, like he understood what the question really was.

“No,” Bax answered carefully. “I recently broke up with my boyfriend of three years.”

Nick’s mouth twitched at the clever way Bax told his mum what she really wanted to know.

“I’m terribly sorry,” she answered, then ignored him and turned to Nick. “Kate Danbury was asking about you the other day.”

“Oh?” Embarrassment even stronger than what he’d felt when the store employee told him off washed over Nick. “How is Kate?”

“She’s splendid,” his mum said, becoming animated for the first time in their conversation. “You know she and that Paul chap divorced last year.”

“I’d heard,” Nick muttered. He sent Bax a sideways look to make sure he wasn’t as uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was going as he was.

“Joann and I ran into her at the café,” his mum went on. “She was telling us all about how difficult the dating world is these days and how impossible it is to find a nice, stable, interesting man.”

“Um, I, er….”

“I told her all about your work at the arts center and that sculpture you’re building,” his mum went on with a surprise smile. “She found that very interesting.”

His mum had always been mystified by his interest in art. Her smile now wasn’t about anything he had or hadn’t accomplished, it was purely a signal that he was supposed to be interested in Kate Danbury.

He wasn’t interested in Kate Danbury or anyone else. He definitely wasn’t ready to date. Not when he could barely juggle his life the way it was.

Lucky for him, Macy burst into tears just then, saving him from having to answer.

“Would you like me to take her?” his mum asked as he hugged Macy closer, patting her back and trying to soothe her. Kids picked up on the feelings of their parents, though, and since Nick wasn’t feeling very soothed, he definitely didn’t expect a miracle.

“No, I’ve got her,” he said, rocking Macy gently in his arms. He sent Bax a glance, then looked at his mum again and said, “We were just about finished here. We should get a wiggle on, pay for all this, and get the kids back home as soon as possible.”

His mum just hummed in answer, like she didn’t think he was capable of managing his own kids. “Anytime you need help,” she said, leaving the offer open-ended.

“I can take Jordan back,” Bax said, moving in for the handoff.

For a second, Nick was convinced his mum wouldn’t let Jordan go. She narrowed her eyes at Bax defensively and only let the boy go because he reached for Bax.

Nick was relieved. If Jordan hadn’t wanted Bax to carry him, he had a feeling his mum would have opened a whole other can of worms.

“It was nice to meet you again, Mrs. Turner,” Bax told his mum with a smile as Jordan threw his arms around his neck. “I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

“Yes, I suppose we will,” Nick’s mum said, then turned to Nick. “Call me when you have a chance, dear. There are some things I’d like to discuss with you.”

Dread filled Nick’s stomach, but he kept smiling, kissed his mum on the cheek again, and as soon as she pushed her buggy on into the wine section, he blew out a breath and widened his eyes at Bax in a sign of relief.

“Come on,” Bax laughed, taking hold of the buggy’s handle and pushing it on. “Let’s get you lot home.”

Nick managed a small laugh. He didn’t mind it when Bax tried to take care of him. In fact, strange though it was, he felt like he could definitely get used to it.