Forty-Six
forty-six
WHEREVER YOU WILL GO - THE CALLING
OWEN - OCTOBER 3, 2014
I never thought I’d get the chance to raise my kids at Darling Ridge Farms. Growing up, I spent more time on that land than anywhere else. When my mom and dad were still married, they were incredibly close to Uncle Teddy and Aunt Serena so we were together all the time. It was where I learned how to drive a four-wheeler. Hell, it’s where I learned how to drive anything. Summer nights were spent camping under the stars with Vince and Malcolm. We ran wild, getting into all kinds of trouble. I can even remember being scolded by my mother and my aunt on more than one occasion while my dad and Teddy stood behind them, trying not to laugh.
After I moved away from Cedar Bluff, I always thought about coming back. I hoped one day, somehow, I would be able to make it happen. I wanted my son to grow up the way I did. It might make me sound like a grumpy old man but I have always worried that with technology advancing the way it is, my son wouldn’t be as interested in the outdoors as I was. One of my biggest hopes with this move is that getting to see him more will help grow our bond. I want him to be close to our family, to have a place that always feels like home, to make up for all the time I’ve missed in his life so far.
And now, we’re making it happen. Callie and I are moving our family to Darling Ridge Farms in less than a month. The house has been sitting empty for quite some time, like it was waiting for us. Waiting for me to finally come home.
I always thought it would be bittersweet, but as I glance around the living room, surrounded by half-packed boxes and the sounds of my kids playing, I feel ready.
Since the house has been empty for so long, I still have quite a bit of work to get done before we move in next month.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when Barret hollers for my attention. “Dad! Look how fast I am!”
Barrett takes off running through the living room and I have never been more thankful that the footie pajamas he insists on living in during this stage of his life have grips on the bottom. This particular set of pajamas are Batman-themed. As he runs, his cape flares behind him as he stops just short of running straight into the wall.
Personally, I’ve never understood the appeal of Batman. I’ve always been a bigger fan of Super Man myself. But, the kid likes what he likes. Maybe someday when he grows up, he will have better taste.
“Whoa, bud,” I say, reaching out to steady him. “This is a house, not a racetrack. Just because we’ve started packing things up doesn’t mean inside rules don’t apply.”
My son grins up at me, breathless. “But I’m practicing for the farm!”
I raise an eyebrow. “Practicing what, exactly?”
He spreads his arms wide and his little chest puffs out with pride. “For runnin’ fast! DUH!”
“I understand that you’re excited, son. But you need to check your tone,” I scold, only half-serious.
He looks at me sheepishly before apologizing for saying duh to me. “Uncle Vince says there’s a huge hill, and I wanna see if I can run all the way down without falling.”
Now there’s a trip to the hospital waiting to happen. Thanks, Vince.
I chuckle, ruffling his hair. “That hill’s no joke. You’ll have to be careful.”
“I know!” he pouts. “I’m going to be five soon, Dad! Of course I’ll be careful.”
Before I can respond, Sara toddles over, clutching her stuffed bunny in one hand. She looks up at me, her big blue eyes wide. “Me fast too, Owie?”
I scoop her up easily, tucking her against my side. “You’re the fastest.”
“She is not,” Barrett mumbles.
She giggles, squeezing her bunny tight. “I go on hill?”
“We’ll see,” I say, kissing the top of her head. “Maybe we should work on walking in a straight line first.”
She wiggles against me, full of energy. “I go zoom like Barry!”
Barrett overhears this and immediately corrects her. “Not Barry. It’s Barrett.”
Sara looks unimpressed. “Barry.”
Barrett groans, throwing his hands up. “Callie! She’s callin’ me Barry again!”
Callie’s beautiful laugh comes from across the room, where she’s sitting on the floor next to Ruby, folding a pile of clothes into a box. “Maybe she thinks you look like The Flash. Get it? Because he has a red suit and some berries are red?”
Barrett huffs but seems to accept that answer, and I shake my head, grinning as I set Sara back down.
“Nice Mom Joke,” I tease.
“One of these days, husband, you’re going to realize that I’m hilarious,” she replies.
“Yes, dear. I know you’re hilarious… even if your jokes are corny sometimes. At least you’re cute.”
“I cute!” Sara jumps in, clapping her hands as she beams up at me.
“Yes, of course you are, sweetheart,” I assure her. “You’re the cutest.”
Callie huffs, pretending to be offended. “Okay, so when she says it, she gets a full confirmation, but when I say it, I get hit with sarcasm?”
“I mean…” I gesture vaguely. “She’s two.”
Barrett jumps in before Callie can argue. “Yeah, and she doesn’t make bad mom jokes.”
Callie gasps. “Excuse you! My jokes are gold.”
Barrett shrugs, unimpressed. “More like… bronze.”
I let out a laugh as Callie presses a hand to her chest, faking betrayal. “Unbelievable. You’re all banned from my comedy tour.”
“Darn,” I say dryly. “Guess we’ll have to find another way to pass the time.”
She sticks her tongue out at me. “You better watch it before you end up banned from the bed and are forced to sleep on the couch!”
“Oh! I want to sleep on the couch! Can we have a sleepover in the living room, Dad?” Barrett asks, bouncing on his heels.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “No can do, buddy. I’m heading to the farm after dinner. Then I’m coming home to sleep in my bed with my beautiful wife,” I say, throwing a wink in Callie’s direction.
She smirks, arching an eyebrow. “Mhmm. That’s what I thought. You better start sucking up now.”
“Always,” I say, grinning.
Barrett lets out a dramatic sigh. “Why do you have to go tonight?”
I crouch down so we’re eye level. “Vince and Malcolm are gonna help me get a few things done before we start moving everything in,” I explain. “I know it stinks that I won’t be here to tuck you in tonight, but once we’re living at the farm, we’ll have tons of time together.”
He thinks about this for a second, then perks up. “Like every day?”
“Almost every day,” I confirm, pulling him into a tight hug.
“Okay,” he says, squeezing me back. “But I still think a sleepover sounds fun.”
I ruffle his hair as I stand. “How about this—you and me, guys’ night at the farm after we move in?”
His face lights up. “Really?”
“Really.”
Barrett grins and takes off running down the hall, already talking to himself about all the cool things we’re going to do. I watch him go, shaking my head fondly before turning back toward Callie.
Callie glances up, brushing a piece of hair out of her face. “So what are you guys working on? Anything major?”
“Just clearing out the last of the stuff in the barn, making sure everything’s ready for the kids.” I pause, looking down at Ruby as she clumsily pulls herself up on the side of a box, her little legs wobbling as she steadies herself. “It’s gonna be their place now. I want it to be perfect.”
Callie’s expression softens. “It already is.”
I watch Ruby as she babbles something to herself, then plops back onto her butt, unimpressed with this whole walking and standing thing. Sara immediately sits beside her, handing her bunny in a sweet comforting gesture. I get the feeling she quickly regrets it because it’s only a matter of seconds before the bunny’s ear is in Ruby’s mouth and she’s chomping on it.
A few years ago, I never would’ve believed it. Back then, I was just trying to keep my head above water—raising Barrett, figuring out how to co-parent, working long hours just to make sure I didn’t screw everything up. I never thought I’d get this. A home. A wife I love more than anything. A family that keeps growing, that feels more solid than anything I’ve ever had.
The farmhouse smells like dust and wood shavings, the air thick with the scent of fresh-cut lumber and the faint remnants of old pipe smoke—probably from when Uncle Teddy used to sit out here on the back porch after long days in the field. The place still has good bones, but after sitting empty for months, it needs a little extra attention before it’s move-in ready.
I glance around the porch, taking in the state of things. The railing is weathered and splintering in spots, the boards under my boots uneven from years of wear and tear. It’s not bad, but it’s not good enough for my kids to be running around on either.
We’ve already started tearing up the worst of it. Piles of old boards are stacked near the edge of the yard, ready to be hauled off later. Vince is crouched near the steps, using a pry bar to loosen a stubborn nail. Will is leaning against the porch railing, taking a long swig from his beer. Luke, on the other hand, is being as useless as ever, sitting on the steps and scrolling through his phone.
I wipe the sweat off my forehead with the back of my arm. “You planning to work at some point?” I ask, nodding at Luke.
He doesn’t even look up. “I am working. Moral support.”
Will snorts. “Yeah, because that’s exactly what Owen needs right now.”
Vince shakes his head as he stands, rolling his shoulders. “I say we just let him sit there. We’ll see how much moral support keeps him warm in November when Owen’s got us all out here finishing this shit in the freezing cold.”
Luke groans, finally tucking his phone into his pocket. “Fine, fine. Don’t get your boxers in a twist.”
I smirk, shaking my head.
We work in relative silence for a bit, the only sounds being the occasional grunt of effort, the crunch of nails being pulled from old wood, and the clank of discarded boards hitting the ground.
Eventually, Vince stretches, rolling his shoulders. “Hey, did I tell you guys we got a new CO at the prison?”
Will wipes the back of his hand across his forehead. “What’s he like?”
Vince adjusts his grip on the pry bar, shifting his stance. “CO Monroe. Started a couple of months ago. Had to shadow me for a while.”
Luke lets out a low whistle. “Damn, they’re making the rookies shadow you? Place must be hurting.”
Vince glares. “Shut up.”
Will nods. “So what’s he like?”
Vince pries up another board before answering. “She’s got the right attitude for the job—doesn’t take shit from anybody.”
Luke stops mid-sip of his beer. “She?”
Vince frowns, like he’s just realizing the slip. “Yeah.”
Luke grins. “Ohhh, a lady CO? That changes things.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Is she hot?”
Vince levels him with a look. “Jesus, man.”
Luke holds up his hands. “What? It’s a valid question.”
Vince shakes his head. “She’s—” He hesitates. “She’s just... different. Got this tough-as-nails thing going on, but she actually gives a shit about the job. More than most do.”
Will watches him for a beat. “You like her.”
Vince scoffs. “No, I don’t.”
I smirk, straightening. “He’s full of shit.”
Luke grins. “Oh, 100%.”
Vince lets out a frustrated sigh. “I’m not into her.”
Will leans against the railing. “Does she know that?”
Vince glares. “Jesus, yes.”
Luke nudges my arm. “Watch. Give it a month. He’ll be in love.”
I shake my head, chuckling. “Yeah, I don’t see it. Vince doesn’t do well with women who can call him on his bullshit.”
Vince points at me. “Exactly. Which is why you’re all wrong.”
Luke takes another sip of beer. “We’ll see.”
Vince groans, reaching for his bottle and muttering something under his breath about dumbass friends and stupid conversations.
Luke ignores him, shifting gears. “Speaking of Callie... her friend Brooke…”
I nod, already seeing where this is going. “What about her?”
Luke smirks. “She’s hot.”
I sigh. “Luke.”
“What? She is.”
Vince raises an eyebrow. “You say that about every woman.”
Luke points at him. “That is not true. I have standards.”
Will snorts. “That’s debatable.”
Luke ignores him. “Seriously, though. Brooke’s cute. She single?”
I hesitate. Technically, she is, but I’m pretty sure she’s got a thing for Vince—not that I’d ever say that out loud. Brooke would kill me. And Vince? Vince is still so hung up on not being interested in anyone that I doubt he’s even noticed.
“As far as I know,” I answer carefully.
Luke grins. “Interesting.”
I level him with a look. “Dude, don’t be a dumbass.”
Luke holds up his hands. “I won’t.”
Vince shakes his head. “You definitely will.”
Luke grins. “Probably.”
Will laughs. “He’s definitely going to be a dumbass about this.”
Luke winks. “Guess we’ll find out.”
I sigh, scrubbing a hand down my face. Brooke would eat him alive. She’s not the type to fall for Luke’s bullshit, and frankly, he’s not the type to handle someone like her. She’d have him questioning his entire existence before he even got past the flirting stage.
Shaking my head, I turn back to the porch, grabbing another board. “Alright, enough of this. Let’s get back to work before Callie decides to come supervise.”
Luke smirks. “You mean before she comes out here and makes fun of how slow you’re working?”
Vince chuckles. “Honestly? I’d pay money to see that.”
Will nods. “Same.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips. This is what I missed—working with these guys, talking shit, making progress on something real. In a few weeks, this house won’t just be an empty farmhouse anymore. It’ll be home.
Luke stretches, cracking his neck like lifting a single board has been the hardest work he’s done all day. “You know, Will, you don’t have any room to talk when it comes to women.”
Will raises an eyebrow, wiping his hands on his jeans. “Oh yeah?”
Luke grins, clearly enjoying himself. “Yeah. Considering you’re obviously hot for Sabrina and acting like her own personal bodyguard.”
Vince snorts, tossing a board onto the pile. “More like her guard dog.”
Will tenses, his jaw locking up so tight I can see the muscle twitch from where I’m standing.
“I’m just looking out for her,” he says, voice even, but the way he grips the pry bar a little tighter tells me he knows exactly how it sounds.
Vince lifts an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. And how often do you just happen to be looking out for her?”
Will’s eyes flick to me—just for a second—like he’s gauging my reaction, and I realize something. He’s nervous. Not because of Luke’s bullshit or Vince’s teasing. Because of me.
Because Sabrina is Barrett’s mom.
And if Will has feelings for her—even if he hasn’t admitted it yet—he’s probably worried that I’m gonna have a problem with it.
I exhale, leaning my weight against the railing. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, man.”
Will swallows hard. “I just don’t trust the guy,” he says finally, still not looking at me. “You all saw what Alex did to her. You really think he’s just gonna walk away and never come back?”
That shuts everyone up for a second.
Because, no. None of us think Alex is gone for good.
Vince presses his lips together, shifting his stance. “Yeah, well. Sabrina’s lucky she’s got people in her corner.”
Will nods, still tense. “She’s not just some random woman, alright? She’s…” He trails off, shaking his head. “I just want to make sure she and Barrett are okay.”
I hold his gaze for a long second, then nod. “I can’t think of a better guy to be there for them.”
Will looks at me like he wasn’t expecting that. Like maybe he thought I’d call him out or make things weird. Instead, I just go back to work, yanking another nail loose and tossing the board onto the pile.
I’m not an idiot.
I see the way Will talks about her, the way his voice gets quieter when the subject of her safety comes up. He won’t admit it—not yet—but he cares. Probably more than he even realizes.
Luke, of course, ruins the moment. “But if you were in love with her, how long would you wait before?—”
Will throws a board at him. Hard.
Luke barely dodges it, laughing. “Jesus, relax!”
Vince shakes his head, chuckling. “I don’t know, Will. Seems like you’re a little too invested in her personal safety.”
Will glares at him. “And you’re a little too invested in not admitting you like that new CO at work.”
Vince, who had been smirking a second ago, goes completely still. “I do not like Celeste.”
Luke and I exchange a look.
“Uh-huh,” I say, biting back a grin.
Luke nods. “Yeah, that was totally convincing.”
Vince glares at both of us. “I don’t.”
Will, relieved the attention is no longer on him, smirks. “See how that sounds?”
Vince groans, running a hand down his face. “I hate you all.”
Luke grins. “No, you don’t.”
Vince mutters something under his breath, shaking his head as he goes back to prying up another board. I smirk, knowing full well he’s just trying to avoid giving us more ammo.
I toss my pry bar onto the pile of discarded wood and roll my shoulders, feeling the ache settle in. The air has shifted—cooler now, edged with the crispness of fall. The sun hangs low over the fields, stretching shadows long across the dirt road leading home.
I glance around at what we’ve managed to get done—the porch is almost finished, the railings are sturdy again, the house looking more like something a family should live in rather than just a building sitting empty.
A few more weeks, and we won’t just be working on this place. We’ll be living here.
That thought sits warm in my chest, grounding me. Because as much as I love this land, as much as it feels like a full-circle moment to be coming back to Darling Ridge, home isn’t the house. It’s not the land or the porch or the barn that still smells faintly like my uncle’s pipe smoke.
It’s the way she’ll probably still be awake when I walk through the door, even though she swore she’d go to bed before I got back. It’s Ruby’s soft little breaths against her chest as she sleeps, her tiny fingers curled into Callie’s shirt. It’s Sara’s sleepy, mumbled questions from the hallway, and Barrett peeking one eye open just long enough to ask if we got a lot done before rolling over and pulling the covers up to his chin.
That’s what I’m thinking about. Not the work left to do. Not the aching in my back. Just getting home. I glance at the guys, rolling my shoulders. “I’m calling it. I gotta get home.”
Luke raises an eyebrow. “Awww, you don’t wanna stay and have a little guys’ night?”
“Nope.” I smirk, grabbing my keys. “I’d rather go home to my wife.”
Vince lets out a low whistle. “Man’s got his priorities straight.”
Will shakes his head with a small grin. “Can’t blame you. If I had someone like Callie waiting for me, I wouldn’t stick around either.”
I nod, tossing my keys in the air before catching them. “Exactly.”
There was a time in my life when I never thought I’d have this—a home, a wife I love more than anything, kids who are waiting for me at the end of the day. And now? Now I have every reason in the world to get my ass in my truck and drive home.
I nod toward them. “Hey—seriously. Thanks for coming out tonight. I couldn’t do this without you guys.”
Vince shrugs like it’s nothing. “You’d do it for us.”
Will nods. “Anytime, man.”
Luke smirks. “You can thank me by putting in a good word with Brooke.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, not happening. If you think Brooke is gonna let you anywhere near her, you’re more delusional than I thought.”
Will chuckles. “He’s got a point.”
Luke sighs dramatically. “You know what? I don’t need this negativity in my life.”
I shake my head, already stepping off the porch. “Alright, I’m out. Later, assholes.”
“Tell Callie we said hi,” Vince calls.
“Yeah,” Luke adds, smirking. “And tell her we’re proud of her for putting up with your ass.”
I flip them off without looking back, climbing into my truck and pulling away from the farmhouse. The drive home is quiet, just the low hum of the engine and the sight of open fields stretching under the fading light.
By now, the kids will be asleep, the house quiet except for the soft hum of Callie’s nighttime playlist. And my wife will be waiting for me. I’m exhausted, sore from the hours of work, covered in sweat and sawdust. All I can think about is getting her in the shower with me, feeling her hands against my skin, washing the long day away.
I press my foot a little heavier on the gas. I’ve got work to finish when I get home.