Page 23 of Together Is Where We Belong

As we pulled into the driveway, I couldn’t help but look at the house next door. Three trucks were parked in their driveway, and Brooks and Holden stood on the front porch steps, Holden on the bottom step while Brooks was on the top. They were lost in conversation, so they didn’t hear me pull up.

Nervously, I got out of the vehicle and opened the back door to help Luke out. After reaching in and grabbing my purse, I closed both of our doors and clicked the button on my key fob to ensure the doors were locked.

Luke ran ahead of me and bound up the porch stairs. I told myself not to look, but I did it anyway.

Holden and Brooks were staring in my direction, but they weren’t looking at me. They were looking at the little boy so full of energy as he bounced up and down waiting for me to unlock the door.

I gave a small wave, and they tipped their cowboy hats in return. I rushed up the stairs ignoring the questions that circled in my mind.

I’d focus on cooking with Luke and not the man and his brothers who lived next door.

eight

Leo

Iwished I were outside last night when Carolina arrived home with Luke so I could catch a glimpse of him. Throughout the day when I had a free moment, I’d take my phone out and stare at the two photos she’d sent me.

I still couldn’t believe I was a father. The word sounded foreign in my mind or even when I said it aloud to only myself. I’d only ever pictured becoming a father with her. I couldn’t get close enough to another woman since she’d left. Brooks and Holden swear it’s because my heart still belonged to her. I vehemently disagreed with them.

Today we only had one trail ride, so after we were finished I headed to the house, hoping my parents were there. I needed to tell them about Luke. More importantly, I needed to get their advice. I had such loving parents growing up. Lillian and Sawyer Courtright loved their children endlessly, but just because I grew up with great parents didn’t mean I knew how to be one. Now that I knew about Luke, I wanted to do right by him. I just didn’t know what that meant. And I wouldn’t know until Carolina and I had a talk about me being in his life and what that entailed.

The ride to my parents’ house from the office was quick. As soon as I pulled up to the barn, I parked the ATV and walked the short distance to the back door, letting myself inside.

The house smelled of homemade biscuits and fried chicken, making my mouth water.

My mother stood in front of the stove watching the chicken in the cast iron skillet. She turned her head as she heard me enter, and a smile graced her lips at the sight of me.

“Hey, Leo. You stayin’ for dinner?” my mom asked as she turned one of the pieces of chicken.

“Yeah, Mama. I need to talk to you and Dad about somethin’,” I said with a nervous tone. I didn’t know how to break it to them, but I had a short amount of time to figure that out before dinner was served.

“Is everythin’ okay?” my mom asked, her voice laced with concern.

“Yeah,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing enough. I always thought I could lie to my mom, but somehow that woman could always see through it and knew the truth regardless.

“Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. Why don’t you go wash up?” she suggested with a warm smile.

I walked through the kitchen to the half bath and washed up. Once I was finished I stared at my reflection in the mirror and gave myself a mental pep talk, trying to calm my nerves enough to tell my parents about Luke.

Once I felt calm enough, I pulled out my phone and texted Brooks and Holden that I’d be eating with our mom and dad and breaking the news to them.

Brooks

Good luck. Make sure you sit far enough away from Mom so she can’t swat you with something.

I chuckled at that. When we were kids, my mom always kept a dish towel handy if she needed to swat us from playing around at the dinner table.

Holden

We’ll be ready to hear all about it when you get home.

Thanks

I shoved my phone in the back pocket of my jeans and let out a deep breath before I left the safety of the bathroom.

My parents were both seated at the table when I returned.

I took my normal seat and waited for my dad to say grace.