Chapter Fifty-Four

My new friendship with Nova was going really well. Abigail and Alexis became inseparable, best friends and sometimes maybe even twins. We did a lot of things together and I learnt more about Nova. She could paint, sketch, make pottery, jewelry and decorate. She was infinitely positive and cheery and had a sense of humour.

We’d spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together and celebrated the new year together with the kids all sleeping in the living room in front of the fireplace and Nova and I talking until the wee hours of the morning.

“Are you planning anything special for Valentine’s day?” Mary-Joe asked me.

It was the first week of February, the weather was cold but getting better and some snow was predicted. I insisted on picking Alexis up for school even though they lived within walking distance, I didn’t want them to walk when it snowed.

“Why would I?” I asked her.

“Because it’s Nova’s birthday,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

“On Valentine’s?” I asked her.

“Uh huh,” she repli