It did. She rested her cheek on his chest, and they took a quiet moment before cleaning up the mess and getting back on the road.
It was about a three-hour drive to the house on Smith Mountain Lake, but Whitney’s Uncle Blake only lived about forty-five minutes from the lake house.
The ride was nice with everything in bloom, and the air smelled fresh. “It’s really pretty up here,” Matthew said. “I’d love to come do some painting up here sometime.”
“We could do that. There’s an apartment over the barn. I used to stay there all the time. The view of the mountains is gorgeous from there.” Whitney slipped her shoes back on. “Don’t miss the turn. It’s right around this bend. You’ll see the curvy driveway, but the house sits way back.”
He pulled in, gravel crunching under his tires. “We’re almost there.”
Matthew parked and got out of the car to stretch.
“I’m so excited to be here.” Whitney walked over and took Matthew’s hand.
“I bet the nights out here are as dark as can be. Wouldn’t it be great on a starry night?”
“What is it you always say?” She looked into his eyes, a hint of a smile on her lips. “Don’t tempt me with a good time?”
“Yeah. I do.” He bumped his shoulder to hers and pulled her hand in closer.
“Come on. I can’t wait for you to meet my Uncle Blake.”
He followed her inside, and Whitney ran over to her uncle. The weathered man sat in a wheelchair, a crocheted blanket over his legs.
“You made it. My precious girl.” Uncle Blake looked tired and fragile. “It’s good to see you.”
“I’m sorry it’s been so long.”
He looked past Whitney toward Matthew.
“Hello, sir. I’m Matthew. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Uncle Blake nodded slowly, his hand shaking as he reached for Whitney’s hand. “Is this what has kept you away?”
“Only lately,” she said with a giggle. “Him and work, of course.”
“Work.” He shook his head. “Even as a little girl she was a worker. Headstrong and eager to meet the goal no matter what it was,” Uncle Blake said. His words were slow, and he faltered, but eventually got them out. “Best stall mucker I ever had. She out-cowboyed the paid help.”
“Well, how about that. Doesn’t really surprise me about her,” Matthew said.
“She’s a smart girl. Special. You do right by her.”
“I intend to,” Matthew said.
“Have a seat.” Blake pointed to a chair next to a fireplace that didn’t look like it had been used in a long time.
Matthew walked toward the chair but was drawn to the pictures on the mantel. Pictures of Whitney and William as children.”
“They loved this place,” Uncle Blake said. “And I loved having them here. I’m their father’s brother, but older by more than ten years.”
“Whitney shared with me how special her time with you is to her.” Matthew admired the thought of someone having a childhood with the freedom to just be a kid. He’d been dealt a different hand with Mom leaving and then losing Dad while Matthew was still in his teens.
“What do you think about being out in the country?” Uncle Blake might be slowing down, but he knew what he wanted to say.
Matthew responded from the heart. “You have a beautiful place out here, sir. First thing I noticed was no city lights. I bet it feels like you can grab handfuls of stars in this sky at night.”
“You can.”
“It’s good for the soul, isn’t it?” Matthew felt that about nature in general, even in the city.
