Page 27 of Together Is Where We Belong

“Yeah, I’m still goin’ over there tonight,” I bit out and shook my head. I couldn’t smack him in the back of the head like I wanted without Gentry questioning my reasoning.

“You’re goin’ over there tonight?” Gentry asked with laughter under his tone, and he leaned against the porch railing.

“I’m only goin’ over there because she insists on talkin’ to me about somethin’,” I replied. I wasn’t technically lying. We would be talking, but it’d be about our son.

“I thought I’d never see the day where you’d even entertain talkin’ with her.” Gentry laughed as he looked over to Holden and Brooks like he was trying to get more information.

I had to give it to Brooks. He gave nothing away as he put his hands in the air in defeat. Holden, on the other hand, just let out a full belly laugh and smacked his knee.

“To be a fly on the wall tonight,” Holden said, and I gave him a scowl hoping he’d drop it. There was no way I wanted Gentry to find out this way. He wouldn’t keep it to himself, and then Ainsleigh would have my hide because she would be the last to know.

“Don’t we have work to do?” I bit out, hoping they’d all get the hint and stop using me for their amusement.

“Somethin’ must’ve got to you if you want to work,” Gentry joked and got back to business telling each of us where our stations were. Brooks and I would be on the longest trail ride, while Holden would man the smaller team.

Hopefully, this trail ride went smoothly because all I could think about was tonight and getting to meet my boy.

I shot off a text to my mom and told her what Luke liked. Thankfully, she’d offered so I wouldn’t come tonight empty-handed.

I took my cowboy hat off and gave my head a shake before I repositioned it on my head. Today couldn’t pass by quickly enough.

I raced up the back-porch steps of my parents’ home and into the house. I was a man on a mission. I needed to grab whatever my mom had purchased for Luke, and go home and change before I walked over to Carolina’s house.

I didn’t have to look far for my mom, because she was sitting on a barstool at the large island in their kitchen, the bag right in front of her as if she were waiting for me.

“You’re a lifesaver, Mama,” I said as I walked over to her, and pulled her into my side to hug her tight.

“I hope what I got was okay. I remembered how much you loved Legos as a child and that you had some unopened boxes in the closet of your room. I went and got a few of those because I knew they were discontinued sets. I also grabbed a couple of your firetrucks that I had stored in the attic,” she said as tears formed in her eyes.

“That’s perfect, Mama. I’m sure he’ll love it. Are you okay?” I asked as I took a seat beside her. I’d likely be a few minutes late, but I needed to be there for my mama.

“I just can’t believe I’ve been blessed with a third grandchild. And I feel guilty for not givin’ you those letters. I fretted all night about it,” she admitted as she patted my leg with her hand.

I looked down and noticed the wrinkles that covered her fragile hand, covering it with my own. Seeing her comforting hand on me did something to me in that moment. It was like I finally realized time was precious.

“You have nothin’ to feel guilty about, Mama. That’s all on me. I’ll talk with Carolina tonight about when you guys can meet him, and I’ll send you some more photos of us. How’s that sound?” I asked, hoping to cheer her up.

“That would be perfect. Now off you get. Go meet that precious boy of yours,” she said as she wiped the tears from her face.

“I love you, Mama,” I told her as I gave her another hug. I grabbed the bag off the counter and rushed out the front door.

My foot bounced on the floorboard the entire ride to my house. I didn’t know what to expect tonight, and I wanted to make a good first impression.

Once I got to my house, I grabbed the bag from the floorboard and rushed into the house.

Brooks and Holden weren’t in the living room, for which I was thankful. I didn’t have time to talk to them. I had thirty minutes to shower and change before I had to be next door. I sat the bag down by the table by the door along with my keys.

After taking the quickest shower known to man, I dried off just as fast and threw on a pair of denim shorts and a Courtright Ranch T-shirt. I ran a towel over my hair to get out the excess water and spritzed on some cologne.

I searched for my jeans from today for my wallet out of habit. I grabbed my keys and bag after I slipped on a pair of slides and walked out the door.

My hands shook the entirety of the short walk. I felt nauseous as I walked up the steps of Carolina’s porch. I shook my hands to ward off the nerves and raised my hand, knocking on the door.

I waited for what seemed like a few minutes, but was likely seconds before the front door opened.

“Hey there, Leo. Come on in,” Carolina said as she greeted me at the door with a tired look in her eyes. She was in a pair of light blue scrubs, and I wondered what she did for a living.

I nodded as I crossed the threshold into their home and closed the door.