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Just like the picture didn’t have any blur in it, Luke suddenly knew exactly what he needed to do.
He turned the phone so his parents could see it. “That’s Ted. Remember I’ve told you about him?”
“Oh, look at that darling baby,” Mom said, her voice soft and pitching up. She pressed one palm to her heart. “She’s darling.”
She was, and as Luke looked at the picture again, another message came in.We named her Francine, after Missy’s second mom. We’re going to call her Frannie. She’s missing her Uncle Luke.
He picked up his phone and stood. “I have to go back to Texas,” he said, looking between his mom and dad. Mom nodded as if she knew he’d go back all along.
Dad didn’t seem terribly happy, but he said, “You do what you think is right, Luke. We’ll support you.”
“Thank you,” he said, stepping around his mother to get to his father. He hugged him tight, wishing he could articulate all of the things he felt for his father. “I want to make you proud, but I’m not a good real estate agent.”
“You did everything I ever asked of you, son,” his father whispered. “If you’re meant to be a cowboy, go be a cowboy.”
Luke released his father and drew his mom into a hug. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, my sweet boy.” She held him tight and patted his back. “I wish I could tell you exactly what to do to make you happy.”
“I wish that too,” Luke said. In fact, he wished a whole bunch of things. He wished he hadn’t had to give up boxing. He wished he’d never gone to prison. At the same time, if he hadn’t, he’d never have met Slate, his very best friend in the whole world. He wouldn’t have Ted to send him perfect pictures of his new baby that had cleared Luke’s mind and given him a reason to return to Sweet Water Falls and Hope Eternal Ranch.
He wished he knew what tomorrow would bring, and he wished he had the guts to text Hannah Otto and let her know he’d be back in town soon.
But just like waiting for his future to make itself known hadn’t worked, Luke also knew that wishing didn’t do much for him. He went upstairs to his bedroom, and he started packing.
“Action,” he muttered. “Do something, Luke. Don’t just stand there, waiting to get hit.”
