Page 14 of This Reckless Home

Steele whips his head back to Chuck, giving him a nod. “Yeah. I know a bit.”

Bloody men, don’t know how to sell themselves.

“Need a guy, if you’re looking for work,” Chuck replies, and I have to hold back the laugh at how basic this conversation is. But still, I guess whatever gets the job done. Chuck looks around, grabbing a grubby card from a stack on the workbench next to him. “Give me a call Monday.”

“Yes, sir.” Steele takes the card, pocketing it. “Thank you.”

“No need for thanks yet.” Chuck makes a chuffing sound, almost like laughter. “Plus, the newbies always get the shit jobs to start.”

Steele’s lips twitch. “Yes, sir.”

With another nod, Chuck turns back to the engine he’s working on, dismissing us.

“That seemed promising,” I remark, as we head back to the candy stall.

Steele makes a sound in the back of his throat. “Regular jobs would show socials we can be reliable, responsible enough to have Jus.”

My guts twist. Of course they want to get jobs. They’ve been trying to prove themselves for years to people who decided they weren’t enough. They want Justin with them, need him with them. They want to be a proper family. And that queasy feeling has no place here. I’ve barely known them for a week. And this is more important than any potential feelings, which are too messy anyway.

“Absolutely.” I don’t look up at Steele, not wanting him to see the slight hurt that might be shining in my eyes.

How can I expect these strangers to stay when they have a chance at happiness?

No, it’s right that they go and be a family like they always should have been. And I’ll help them in any way I can. Even if it hurts a little to have someone else leave. It would be selfish and quite ridiculous to expect anything else.

CHAPTER SIX

“STAY (SPED UP VERSION)” BY SAMI ROSE

STEELE

The market was chaos, but as I’ve come to learn about Blossom, she not only took it in her stride, but was like a flower drifting on the wind, making everyone she touched smile. She knew almost every vendor there, buying something from most of them until we had so many bags I wasn’t sure we’d fit them all in the sunshine bus.

Then her helping me potentially get my dream job at Chuck’s… Emotion almost overwhelmed me as we were walking away. Though, part of me wondered if leaving and getting a place of our own is still the right call, given what she can offer Jus here. Everything here — the address, the stability, the jobs — it's exactly what we've been trying to build for years. Leaving now would mean starting over.

Not to mention it would take you further from her…

I shut that shit down real fast. Aside form the fact that I’ve known the woman for barely more than a day, she’d never want someone as fucked up as me. I’m no good for her. Too broken. Too dirty.

Once we’ve all had lunch, eating delicious pastries and fruit from the market, the kids all decide to go outdoors, and not having seen the garden much, me and Nox follow. It shouldn’t surprise me that it’s as beautiful and huge as the house, with even what looks like a small stream at the bottom before some woodlands.

Blossom heads to the vegetable garden with some of the kids, helping them do some weeding and planting while Sally shows Jus and Nox how to collect the eggs and feed the chickens. Ant is still indoors I think, and I know I really should go and get him, convince him to get some fresh air, but I want to enjoy this moment of peace for just a little while longer. I can hear the goats, though they must be out of sight, and I close my eyes, letting the sun warm my face, the sounds of happy children fill my heart.

A soft clucking sound is followed by childish giggles, and I open my eyes to see Debbie, the house chicken, strutting towards me with Peggy hot on her heels. The chicken stops, allowing Peggy to scoop her up, and the girl makes a beeline for me.

“Mr. Steele! Mr. Steele! Hold Debbie!”

Before I can protest, the child is standing on her tiptoes, presenting me with the pure white bird. I’ve no choice but to take her, the warm chicken in my arms as Peggy skips off with a giggle like she hasn’t left a bull in a china shop.

Fuck.

What if I squeeze her too tight? She’s so small and fragile, so fucking breakable and I’m too big to be holding something so delicate. The stupid bird settles immediately, making these soothing cooing noises that calm my racing heart and I realize the look on Nox’s face yesterday when he held her wasn’t fake. It really is the most calming feeling I’ve had in years.

There’s something serene about it, even if a man like me has no reason to be holding something so pure, so breakable.

Movement in my peripheral vision has my head snapping up, watching as Blossom wipes dirty hands on her jeans, a soft smile on her face as she gazes at me. My heart clenches in my chest as she stands up, making her way over and I can’t take my eyes off her.

She really is like an angel, the sun making her honey-brown hair look like it’s run through with gold, creating a halo around her.