Page 57 of Together Is Where We Belong

“I’m going this week to register him and sign everything to get his records transferred. It’s just been chaotic with getting settled in since I got back,” I told her as I glanced over at the clock on the stove noticing it was getting late and close to Luke’s bedtime.

Just as I was about to go searching for Leo and Luke, they came in the back door. Leo ducked into the house as he carried Luke on his shoulders. Luke laughed, and I smiled over at them. Without moving too abruptly, I reached into my bag and pulled out my phone to snap a photo of the two of them.

“Can you send me one?” Lillian asked as she leaned against the cabinet and relished in the sight of the two of them dancing around the kitchen oblivious to us.

“Absolutely. Put your number in my phone and I’ll message it to you along with some others,” I told her as I held out my phone to her.

“Me too,” Ainsleigh said as she looked over her mom’s shoulder to guide her with imputing their numbers.

After they were programmed, I opened a group text thread and attached a few photos that I’d taken with Leo and Luke and a couple of my recent favorites of Luke by himself.

“Thank you,” Lillian and Ainsleigh both said at the same time.

I looked over at them with a questioning glance.

“For? I don’t mind sending you the photos,” I told them, thinking that was what they meant. While the thought of splitting my time with Luke wasn’t my favorite, seeing him at the ranch with his family enjoying his time with them helped me know that I’d made the right decision in letting Leo in Luke’s life.

“Not just that. For that,” Lillian said as she pointed over to Leo and Luke. I followed her gaze, and Leo carefully took Luke off his shoulders, and he ran over to me.

“I got to meet Bullseye, Mom.” Luke beamed as he ran into me and wrapped his arms around me, looking up at me with an excitement in his eyes I’d never seen before.

“You did?” I said as I looked down at him and ruffled his hair. I remembered Bullseye all too well. Leo and I’d spent many days and evenings riding his horse, me behind him with my arms around his waist, and my head resting on his shoulder as we watched the sunset off in the distance.

“Yeah. He got his name from the white spot around his eye, and I got to feed him a carrot. Isn’t that cool,” Luke said as Leo walked up and stood off to my left.

“That’s so cool. You ready to go? It’s almost your bedtime,” I told him as I cupped the back of his head.

“Do we have to?” Luke groaned. I loved that he wasn’t quite ready to leave and that he felt more comfortable here now than when we’d first arrived.

“You can come back soon. I promise. I even talked to your grandma, and we are going to set up some days for you to come here. What do you think about that?”

“Can we make cookies?” Luke asked as he turned around and looked up at Lillian with a hopeful expression.

“We sure can,” Lillian said with a smile. She gasped as Luke walked up and gave her a big hug before he walked over to Ainsleigh and did the same.

“He’s a hugger,” I exclaimed. Luke loved showing affection when he was comfortable with someone.

“I’ll take all the hugs he’ll give me,” Lillian said as she stared down at Luke who now stood by my side.

“See you soon, Nana. Don’t forget about the cookies,” Luke said before he started in the direction of the front door.

Lillian’s lips quivered at the name Luke had honored her with. Tears filled my eyes at my sweet boy’s gesture.

“Thank you for dinner and the invite, Lillian. It was nice seeing you again, Ainsleigh,” I said before I turned and followed Luke out of the kitchen.

I heard Leo tell his mama goodnight and then his footsteps as he followed behind us.

Luke ran down the porch steps and spun around in the front yard before he ran over to Leo’s truck. He pulled on the door handle, but couldn’t get it to open.

Leo jogged over and opened the door for Luke before he picked him up and put him in his seat.

I smiled at hearing Luke laughing at whatever Leo had said or done.

Leo opened the door for me then rounded the back of his truck. I climbed inside and closed the door, turning around to look at Luke.

“I like it here, Mom,” he whispered as he stared out the window in the direction of Leo’s parents’ house.

“I’m glad, sweet boy,” I said as I caught the smile on Leo’s face before I turned and stared out the window. My thoughts drifted to a time when I used to love it here too.