Page 105 of Together Is Where We Belong

I unwrapped Luke’s flowers and put them in the water and turned to find Leo holding his bouquet out to me.

“They're beautiful,” I said as I tried to take the flowers from him.

He held on tight, and I looked up at him with questions in my eyes.

“Not as beautiful as you,” he said before he let the flowers go.

“Still such a smooth talker,” I whispered as I turned and put the flowers in the same vase as Luke’s. I held the flowers in front of me and admired their beauty for a moment before I carried them over to the table to proudly display them in the center.

“You ready to go, bud?” I asked when I turned around.

“I’m starvin’, Mom,” Luke said and I didn’t miss the way he’d dropped his ‘g’ just like his dad.

“Then let’s go feed you,” I said with a laugh as the three of us left the house.

I was nervous when we arrived at the restaurant, and I wasn’t sure why.

I didn’t really care what people thought of me, but for some reason I worried what assumptions they’d make by seeing the three of us together. I hadn’t really taken Luke into town since I’d returned. I wanted to get him settled, not throw him into the talks of this small town.

We were seated, and Luke chose to sit across from me beside Leo. I smiled at the two of them. I still couldn’t get over how much he looked like Leo. I could see it in the photos, but seeing it with the two of them staring back at me was like a shock to my system.

The waitress greeted us with a smile as she approached.

“Well, I’ll be. Carolina Sutton. I’d heard you were back in town, but I hadn’t seen ya yet, and you’re here with Leo Courtright just like the good ole’ days. It’s about time y’all are back together,” the waitress greeted us. I recognized her face, but couldn’t recall her name.

“Hi,” I said with a smile.

“And who might you be?” she asked as she looked over at Luke.

“I’m Luke Alexander Courtright,” he said proudly. He always had to include his middle name when he introduced himself, and no amount of me telling him not to had got him to stop.

I didn’t miss the way the waitress gasped as she looked from Luke over to Leo who had his arm over the back of the booth behind Luke.

“That’s right, Delores. He’s my son, and she’s my girl,” Leo said from across from me, stunning me speechless. He called me his girl. His girl. We hadn’t established that just yet, and now that he’d said it to the waitress, surely the whole town would know by morning.

“It’s nice to meet ya. Welcome to The Chill Grill. How’re y’all this evening?” she asked, her voice a little tenser.

“Good,” the three of us said at the same time.

“What can I get y’all to drink?” she asked.

We all ordered sweet teas, and she told us she’d be back in a moment.

I gave Leo a we need to talk look, and he smiled back at me before he turned his attention back to Luke.

“Why’d she look at me like that, Mom?” Luke asked, ever the inquisitive little boy.

“She was just shocked I had a son. I used to know her when I lived here before,” I explained.

“That makes sense. I want a burger and fries, but make sure my fries have cheese on them,” he said after he read the kids menu in front of him.

“That sounds good. I think I’ll have the same. What’re you having, Leo?” I asked.

“Y’all read my mind. They have the best burgers with this bacon jam on them,” he said as he looked over at me and mouthed ‘you doin’ okay.’

I gave a subtle nod so Luke didn’t notice.

“Did you have fun at Grandma and Grandpa’s?” I asked Luke just as the waitress returned with our drinks.