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He tried to put the weirdness of his missing five months behind him. But it always kept creeping back like a word you can’t remember. Or a name you’re trying to pull up. It was damn frustrating.
He continued to the barn with three of the five dogs following him, and found Teddy brushing down Chief. “Let me finish that up.”
“Sure thing, Mr. O’Connell.” He handed Jake the curry brush. “Seems you gave him a pretty good workout.”
“Yeah. We went up the ridge and down the far side to the creek. Then we ran most of the way home.”
“That’s good for him. And if I may say so. It’s good for you too, sir.”
“I guess it is.”
When he’d finished brushing down Chief and was putting him in his stall, Ember came into the barn. Jake smiled at her.
“I’m almost afraid to ask how that went?”
She nodded. “I thought Genny should’ve told him I was coming. But now that I’ve met Jacob. I can see why she didn’t.”
Jake laughed. “My father is…difficult. More so since the stroke.”
“Well, the good news is. I’m pretty sure I can get through to him.”
“Good. My kids tried. I’ve tried since I’ve been back. We haven’t had much luck.”
“Where ah…you said since you came back?”
“Yeah. I was on a trip that ended up taking a lot longer than I planned. My father had his stroke while I was gone.”
“I see.”
“I was out of touch. Or, of course, I would’ve come straight home.”
“Of course.”
He looked at her for a moment, then tried to rub away the feeling of déjà vu. He squeezed the bridge of his nose.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Just a little headache.” He took a breath. “I guess you’re probably ready to get settled into the house.”
“Yeah. I could use some rest.”
“I’ll take you over.”
They left the barn, and he went to his truck. When he opened the door, Rosie jumped in. He looked at the other dogs. Stay. They all retreated to the porch and Jake looked at Ember. “It’s just a mile. You can follow me.”
“Okay.” She got into her car and he pulled out slowly, watching the older Toyota in his rearview mirror. It certainly didn’t look like something he’d trust to drive across the country in.
He drove past the big fenced-in garden with a greenhouse at one end of it and followed the gravel road cutting across a meadow. Hisgrandparents’ house sat on the lower end of the creek running through the property.
It was a beautiful spot, and he and Rachel considered moving into it when his grandfather passed. But at the time, Jacob was dead set against it. So Jake built the bedroom suite addition onto the house, which gave his father the upstairs to himself. Until the kids came along, of course. A year after they were married, J.T. was born. Fifteen months later, Sage and Sawyer joined the family, and they decided three was enough.
When he arrived at the house, Jake stopped the truck and got out. Ember pulled up beside him and left her vehicle, then looked at the house. It was built by Jake’s grandfather of squared off logs. The green metal roof was put on about ten years ago. But other than that. Not much had changed since Jamison O’Connell built it for Esty leaving the main house for their newly married son, Jacob.
“Oh my goodness. This is a beautiful spot and a lovely home.”
“Yeah. It’s special.”
“Who lived here?”
