Page 174 of Peaks and Promises

My heart melted and I ruffled his hair. “With me. I’m not going anywhere.”

He sprang forward, knocking himself into me with a thud that pushed the air from my lungs. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight.

“I love you,” he whispered.

Closing my eyes against the sting of tears, I squeezed him. “I love you, too, chief.”

The sound of sniffling made me look up. Summer stood in the hallway watching us with tears streaming down her cheeks. Her lower lip trembled and she shook her head.

“Come here, beautiful.” I kept one arm around Nate and held out the other for her.

She rushed over and sat next to me. I put my arm around her and held her close while she shook with sobs. I had a feeling she’d been holding in those tears for the last couple days. She needed to let it all out.

Nate pulled away, his expression concerned.

“It’s okay,” I whispered. “She needs this.”

“Is it like chopping wood, but for moms?” he asked.

“That’s exactly what it’s like.”

“It’s okay, Mom.” He reached over and patted her arm. “You should get your feelings out.”

That made her cry harder.

Holding them both, I waited for her to finish. Gradually, her sobs subsided and her breathing evened. She sat up and wiped away her tears.

“Sorry.” She took a deep breath. “I think I’m okay now.”

“Can we go to Grandma and Grandpa’s today?” Nate asked. “Do you think Grandpa got more root beer? He said pretty soon we could make root beer floats.”

Summer gazed at him, her expression a mix of love and bewilderment. “Root beer floats? That’s what’s on your mind this morning?”

“Have you ever had a root beer float?” he asked, his tone serious. “They’re so good.”

“Yes, I’ve had a root beer float. And yes, we can go visit them today.”

“That’s not really optional,” I said. “They’ll want to see him.”

Smiling, she nodded slowly. “Yeah, they will.”

We decided we were all hungry, so Summer and I got up to cook a big breakfast. We had a large package of bacon in the fridge, and it seemed like a big-pile-of-bacon sort of morning. Nate came in to help, and Summer showed him how to scramble eggs. It was a bit crowded in the small kitchen, and Nate stubbed his toe twice. But in the end, we sat down to a delicious and satisfying meal.

It felt good.

I texted my parents to let them know we planned to come by soon. Summer sent Nate off to take a shower—reminding him to wash his feet.

She and I took advantage of the opportunity—brief though it might be—and hurried into the bedroom. Clothes fell to the floor, and our bodies came together. I kissed her deeply, loving her with all I had, until we were both sated and spent. When it was our turn for the shower, I got in with her, and we held each other beneath the warm spray.

It was everything. She was everything.

We all felt better after washing off the last of our ordeal and left to go to my folks’ place.

I pulled up to the house and parked. Dad was already on the porch, waiting for us. Seeing him there, a surge of emotion swept through me, and I had to swallow the lump in my throat.

Nate flew out of the car and ran up the porch steps. Dad caught him in a bear hug. A moment later, Mom rushed out of the house. Dad put an arm around her, and they both held Nate.

Summer burst into tears.