Page 83 of Together Is Where We Belong

He turned to me and leaned against the table. I turned to face him and waited for him to respond.

“I knew you’d want a home someday. And I guess I always hoped you’d find someone to make a life with,” he said, and I interrupted him.

“This house is just for Luke and me,” I explained, and the explanation tasted bitter in my mouth.

He gave me a smirk and a wink like he knew something I didn’t. I shook my head, not sure I wanted him to elaborate further.

“What’re you planning to do with these?”

“I was thinking today that I have no place for Luke in my house. I can’t get him overnight there, and I want a place that’s just ours,” I told him.

“Why these plans?”

That I couldn’t explain. I could have new ones drawn up. I could design something completely different. But my gut told me these plans, this house, was the one that I just had to build. That didn’t make rational sense, but I was going to listen to my gut on this one.

“I can’t explain that. It’s just a feeling I have,” I told him.

“I can put you in touch with a builder from Willow Bend. He’s one of the best,” he said with a smile as he rolled the plans up and put them in the white plastic tube.

He handed them over to me and patted my shoulder.

“Let’s go home and eat some dinner. I assume you’re eatin’ with us,” he said with a smirk.

“Yeah,” was all I could manage to say. A choke of emotion clogged my throat knowing I’d be seeing my boy and Carolina.

Luke animatedly talked throughout dinner about the day he had with his grandma. He told us all about how he helped make breakfast and lunch and brownies, and how he went to see the cows and chickens. I looked between the two of them, a smile on my mom’s face so wide that I was sure her cheeks would hurt. She looked at him with pure joy, and I couldn’t be happier that he was now a part of our lives.

As we wrapped up dinner, Luke yawned and asked if he could watch Rio for the umpteenth time. Carolina smiled and laughed to herself as she helped my mom clean up dinner.

“Why don’t I go and get your bath started, then get some pajamas on while your mom helps grandma?” I asked him as we got up from the table and carried our dishes to the sink. With the way he yawned, I doubted he would make it halfway through the movie.

As I helped Luke get dressed, he asked me something that almost dropped me to my knees.

“Why aren’t you and Mom together?” His voice was barely above a whisper as he struggled to get his arms in the sleeves of his shirt.

“That’s complicated, bud,” I told him as I helped him with his shirt.

“What’s complicated?”

“It’s a tough situation,” I tried to explain in a way he’d understand.

“Do you love my mom?” I had to look away so he wouldn’t see the shocked expression and the pain in my eyes at the mere mention of loving Carolina.

I turned back to him after I schooled my features.

“It’s not that simple,” I told him.

“Why? My friends' moms and dads are together. I just don’t understand why mine can’t be,” he said with a pout.

“Just because me and your mom aren’t together doesn’t mean we love you any less,” I explained.

“Adults make everything so difficult,” he said with a huff before he stomped away from me and headed downstairs.

I took a moment to collect myself before I followed.

Carolina had the movie set up in the den. She sat on the far end of the sectional with the remote in her hand, ready to hit play. Luke curled up beside her to share the soft blanket.

“Sit on the other side of me, Dad,” he said as he patted the spot beside him.