Page 44 of Together Is Where We Belong

“I told him I wasn’t planning on it.” Which was the truth. I knew when I returned and Leo found out about Luke, I’d have to replant roots in my hometown. And I was finally okay with returning.

“Did you mean that?” I hadn’t discussed my future plans with her. I just told them I needed to come back, not how long I’d planned on staying.

“Yeah, Mom. I did.” She smiled ear to ear at hearing my news.

“I’m glad you’re home, honey,” my mom said.

We finished our tea and discussed how I planned to decorate the house, something my mom loved to do. She’d take over if I’d give her the go-ahead, which if things stayed the way they were, I might just let her.

Once we were done, I stood and leaned down to give her a hug.

“Thank you for everything, Mom,” I said as I hugged her tight. I meant more than the dinner, advice, and tea. I meant everything they’d done for me.

“Anytime, sweet girl. Anytime,” she said as she wrapped her arms around me.

I got Luke and headed home.

He yawned in the backseat the whole way, staying quiet the entire ride, which wasn’t like him. He must’ve been tired after the day he’d had with my parents.

I pulled into our driveway and looked in the backseat. He was nodding off, and I smiled at how much he fought the sleep that tried to pull him in.

After I grabbed my bag, I got out of the SUV and closed my door quietly, so I didn’t scare him. I rounded the SUV and opened the door. Luke grumbled something as he leaned toward me to carry him inside.

“What was that, buddy?” I asked as I unbuckled him and picked him up.

“Can I say goodnight to Dad?” he asked as he lay his head on my shoulder.

I closed the door and turned to look in the driveway next door, noticing Leo’s red pickup truck parked.

“Let’s go see if he’s home,” I told him as I kissed the side of his head and walked over to the house next door.

I shifted Luke in my arms as I walked up the porch steps. It wouldn’t be long until he was too heavy for me to do this.

Lifting my hand, I knocked on the door and stepped back, hoping Leo answered so Luke wasn’t disappointed.

The door opened, breaking me out of my thoughts.

Brooks stood on the other side of the doorway and stared at me in shock.

“Is Leo here?” I asked warily. I knew that Brooks and Holden knew about Luke, but they hadn’t met him yet.

“Um … yeah. Is everything okay?” he asked as he looked between me and Luke. Back in the day, Brooks was always the cautious one, the one that would go out of his way to make sure everyone was okay. It was nice to see at least that hadn’t changed.

“Yeah. He’s about to fall asleep, but asked if he could tell Leo goodnight,” I told him as I lifted Luke in my arms to situate him again.

“I’ll go get him,” he said as he hurried away from the door.

I walked up and down the porch as I waited for Leo to come outside. It was easier for me to carry Luke when I was moving rather than standing still.

Leo rushed out the door minutes later putting on a white T-shirt.

“Everything okay?” he whispered as he walked right up to me.

I had to back away to look up at him.

With him so close, I could smell his cologne and memories of the past threatened to enter my mind.

I cleared my throat and told him that Luke wanted to say goodnight.