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� Your cabin?�

� Yeah, my cabin. You�ve never been up there and I heard the weather report�s calling for snow,� He said.

� Really? Or are you just saying that to get me to go?�

� No I�m serious.� He laughed. Why would I lie about snow? My vacation starts up next week and I want to spend some time with you away from Rachel, and your doctors, and this goddamned office. Just the weekend� please?� He begged.

� What makes you think I�ll be able to get the time off?� I asked.

� Because I say you can have it off. C�mon Heath, we need this. Just time alone,�

I smiled at his pleading and gave in to his request. After I hung up the phone I went back to work, dreading the upcoming weekend. I was terrified of being alone with Nick, and wasn�t sure how to handle it. The day before we left, I called AJ and explained to him my fears. � Whatever happens, happens for a reason,� He said. � Don�t sweat it. Go and have fun�. But not too much fun,� He warned.

***
� What�s the matter?� Nick asked, as we drove up to his cabin.

I turned my gaze from the window to look at him. � Nothing. I�m just thinking,�

� About what?� He asked glancing at me.

� Stuff.� I shrugged. � Nothing really important. Just about home-�

� Why don�t you ever talk about your parents?� He interrupted. � I�ve told you anything you wanted to know about my family, and yet I know nothing about yours-�

� There�s nothing to tell. My parents are dead, Nick.�

� These are the people that gave you life, Heather. They made you who you are, and there�s nothing to say about them?�

� What do you want to know?� I asked, not wanting to cause an argument so early in to trip.

� I don�t know-�

� Then why bring it up?� I laughed. � My mother and my father were married for over 25 years, before they realized that they never loved each other, got divorced, and my father died from a heart attack and my mother soon followed in a car accident. I was an only child, and I spent my life travelling back and forth between states for holidays and summers. My parents both loved me very much, but they couldn�t love each other. When my mother died, Marcus was there for me-�

� Heather-� Nick said quietly. � I don�t want to hear about Marcus. I want to hear about the good things you shared with your parents. Ya know the Christmases-�

� There weren�t many. I told you I was shipped back and forth. You want a happy holiday memory? I�ll give you one. I was 8 and there was this doll I�d wanted forever.
Her name was Magic Marcie, or Margie or something. IT was one of those dolls that helped you do the magic tricks. She had the magic scarves, top hat, the bunny rabbit� everything,�

� I think I remember that doll,� Nick nodded.

� Well I got up early Christmas morning and I raced downstairs, just knowing that Marcie would be waiting for me under the tree�. She was. I loved that doll more than life itself. I carried that doll with me until her head fell off,� I laughed. � She meant everything to me and you wanna know why?�

� Why?� He asked.

� Because she was the only thing I ever got that I asked for. I guess Marcie was in the financial range that my parents were willing to pay for me,�

� Heather, I�m sorry.� He said quietly. � I didn�t know,�

� It�s not your fault, Nick.� I shrugged. � It�s just that my life has never been an easy one. And it�s not that I don�t like talking about it, it�s just that most of my childhood I�d like to forget,�

� I don�t want you to forget. Like I said your parents made you who you are, and I love you, the way you are,� He smiled.

I smiled and leaned over kissing him on the cheek. � I�ll tell you anything you want to know in due time,� I whispered.

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