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I crack open the book and clear my throat. Changing my voice, I read from the book, making sure I really highlight my accent for Tobias. Dagda jumps on the bed and curls up at the bottom as Tobias yawns.
Finishing the story, I look up to see Tobias is fast asleep. Juniper laughs.
“Guess somebody was tired.”
I stand, putting my hand out to help Juniper up. Dagda lifts his head, huffs, then lays it back down on top of Tobias’s feet. Juniper leans her head on my shoulder.
“He loves this dog so much.”
“And Dagda loves him. Let’s go sit outside, babe.”
We both head down the steps, Juniper grabbing her glass of wine while I grab my bottle of beer. Heading over to the small tree swing we put up this week, Juniper and I both sit down, leaning on each other.
She gently tugs on my shirt. “What’s on that mind of yours?”
Chuckling, I gaze down at her. “You know me so well already.” I sigh, taking a sip of my beer. “I wanted to talk to you about… my past.”
Juniper sits up. “Is it bad?”
“God, no. Well, when I was younger maybe.”
We both laugh. “Trouble maker, huh?”
“Harmless punk kid shit, babe. Not all of us were perfect school girls.” Kissing her on the top of the head, I continue. “I had a little sister growing up. Our parents were never really around. For a while, my grandparents raised us. Then, they passed, and threw us back on our parents.”
“Here or Ireland?”
“Both. Born there, raised there for a bit. Parents dragged us here after our grandparents passed. I was sixteen and going through a lot. My sister was still just a damn kid. Seven years old.”
Juniper takes my hand in hers. “I’m so sorry, Cody.”
“Even here, it was a shitshow. As soon as I saved enough, I left. I wanted to stay for my sister, but I just couldn’t handle being there. Sixteen and living on my own sucked. But I still went home and took care of my sister. A few years later, I had just come home from celebrating my eighteenth birthday. Cops were at my door with my sister. Parents disappeared and dropped her off at the fire station.”
“Jesus…”
I nod. “From that day on, I stopped all my bullshit. I worked three jobs to provide for us. I would go hungry so she could have seconds. But I don’t regret a single thing. I gave her the best life possible while I could. Then came the doctors. I had brought her in for what I thought was a cold. It was cancer. Aggressive. Poor Emily had no chance. We tried so hard to fight it, but she was so weak already from everything else my parents had given her. Mold sickness, asthma, just everything you could imagine.”
“Cody… oh gosh. I’m so sorry.”
“When she passed, I was lost. So fucking lost, June. I built the house to do something with my hands. To keep my mind occupied. Then I planted sunflowers all over. They were Em’s favorites. I visit her every Sunday at the cemetery. Bring her new flowers and read some books to her. She loved reading.”
Juniper softly kisses my hand. “That’s really beautiful. Terribly sad, but you are… you are a wonderful, kind soul, Cody. She was lucky to have you.”
I lean over and kiss Juniper. “That’s my past. I needed to tell you, so you understood why I’m such a lonely grump. And the sunflowers, and where I go every Sunday. Oh yeah, and sometimes I talk to her.”
Juniper giggles. “You’re not such a grump anymore.”
“Nope. Not since you and Tobias rumbled into my life. Here I was, minding my business with my motors and Dagda. And this sassy brunette and curious wee man landed right in my yard, not leaving me alone.”
“And you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I kiss Juniper again. “Damn straight. You two have been such a blessing. The missing piece I didn’t know I needed.”
My hands grasp her cheeks, bringing her lips to meet mine. Juniper softly sighs, her body melting into mine.
“Take me to bed, Cody.”
“Anything your heart desires, baby.”
