Chapter 18 #3
The back door slammed open, making me jump out of my skin. “Mom, help! The baby got out, and I need help getting her before the cows do. Stella somehow broke through—” He stepped far enough into the kitchen to notice me. “Oh. Webb. Hi.”
I stood up and raced toward him. “What happened? Stella’s out?” That cow was going to be the death of me. We’d put her and the others in a different area to keep them away from Muriel while she was calving, but she must have found a way out of her pasture.
We hustled outside and across the yard to the sheep enclosure.
“I got a lamb,” he said over his shoulder. “And she’s tiny.” I could hear the fear in his voice.
“We’ll get her, baby,” I said, rushing ahead of him. “I promise.”
When we got past the enclosure to the other side, I saw my brother Knox headed our way on the 4x4 with Marco in the passenger seat.
I also saw Stella and Diana munching sweet spring grass next to a fat ewe and an adorable baby lamb, who looked like a collection of cotton balls on Q-tip legs. Everyone was chilling as if it was no big deal.
Thank God we didn’t have a bull.
“I’ll get Stella and Diana heading back in the right direction if you grab the baby,” I said to Luke.
He agreed and headed toward the sheep while I made my way to the cows.
What followed included a comical amount of mud, manure, Luke’s special brand of non-cursing, my ear-curling brand of actual cursing, and Marco’s colorful commentary while taking video with his iPhone to post on the Pippin Peeps Facebook page.
Once we’d gotten the sheep back in their enclosure, we herded Stella and Diana back onto my family’s property and into a pasture with better fencing. Knox offered to run Luke and me back to Luke’s place in the 4x4 since my car was still there.
Before we took off, Marco looked up from his phone with a grin. “Lookie there. I just earned myself a commemorative scroll.”
Dread pooled in my gut. “What do you mean?”
“I’m the one who documented Part the Sixth. You commingled yon flocks or some shit. Well done, kids.”
He returned to the house while still belly laughing.
The ride back to Luke’s was awkward as hell. None of us spoke until it seemed Knox finally couldn’t stand it anymore.
“How’d it go at Curt’s office, Webb? Any news about the custody stuff with Amanda?”
The reminder of the orchard deed sat heavy on my heart. I wanted to tell Luke about it so he could hear it from me, but I was due to pick up Aiden in twenty minutes from Olin’s house. Now wasn’t the time.
“We’re going to allow unsupervised overnights,” I said numbly. “But Curt’s going to try and make sure there are some parameters in place.”
Luke didn’t contribute to the conversation or ask any questions. His lack of involvement made me feel even worse.
Knox tried to include him. “Luke, how was your day?”
“Good. Spelling bee was this afternoon. I won’t tell you how Aiden did, since I know he’ll want to tell you himself, but I was really proud of him.”
“He won?” Knox demanded.
I cuffed him lightly on the head. “He just said he wasn’t gonna tell. Jesus.”
“No, but let’s just say I was even more impressed with his attitude than with his performance. It’s a hard thing not to get everything you want,” he said softly. “It’s even harder to do it gracefully.”
That was the damn truth.
Silence fell again.
When Knox dropped us off, he shot me a look I couldn’t interpret. I followed Luke back to the kitchen door. I needed him to know I wanted to talk even though I didn’t have time to do it now.
“Listen,” I began. “I have some things I need to say about the land—”
“Thanks for helping me get the animals sorted,” he said quickly before I could continue.
“I was freaked out when I got home and saw them all mixed in there together. I was worried about the lamb because she’s too small to protect herself.
But don’t worry about staying. I know you’re busy.
I ran into Maryanne at the school pickup, and she said you and Aiden and a bunch of other families were meeting up tonight to make posters for the Spring Fling Scout booth.
So that’s awesome. I know Aiden’s really excited.
And if you need any poster supplies, let me know!
I have a ton. Well, you’ve seen them. In my trailer.
That’s where I still keep them. I’m kind of using it as a Pick-a-Book office right now. The trailer, I mean.”
I stepped forward to grab him and slam my mouth against his to shut him up and stop his nervous babbling, but before I got close enough, the door opened, revealing his mom and aunt.
“There you are! Everything all settled?”
The look on Laura’s face was hopeful and clearly indicated an interest in more than the animal mix-up. I shook my head.
Luke plastered on a fake smile. “Definitely. But Webb has to run. He’s got a thing with Aiden tonight. Have fun! Tell Aiden I said I can’t wait to see how the posters turn out.”
Before I knew what was happening, I was in my car, headed down the long driveway.
Alone.
Much later that night, after my fingers were stained with marker ink, my knees were sore from crawling around on the school gym floor, and my talkative son was finally silently sleeping, I slumped into a kitchen chair and let Uncle Drew pour me a beer.
“Long day?” he asked.
I took a deep glug of the cold beer. It tasted amazing. After I swallowed, I took a breath. “Do you have any idea how many people cracked a joke tonight about me commingling my flock?”
Drew smiled and shook his head. “Marco was pretty desperate for one of those scrolls.”
“It’s one thing for the other folks in town to be all up in my business about it, but family? C’mon.”
Drew’s smile dropped. “Hey. Watch it. Marco loves you, and he cares about Luke very much. It’s not his fault you managed to stick your foot in your mouth and have your head up your ass at the same time where Luke Williams is concerned.
That little pretzel of dumbfuckery is of your own making.
Marco happens to believe you and Luke are perfect for one another just like I do, so don’t blame him for helping that along. ”
I sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s just been a long day. And… I…”
Why was this so freaking hard to say out loud? I took another sip of beer.
Drew’s patience outlasted me.
“I miss Luke,” I admitted softly.
Drew pulled a slow, knowing smile. “Thank fuck you admitted it. So go see him.”
I let out a laugh. “It’s late.”
“Tomorrow’s Saturday. You can sleep in.”
“The Spring Fling is tomorrow, remember? And I have an excited child. There’s no such thing as sleeping in.”
Drew pierced me with a look. “I can manage Aiden. You know that.”
It was tempting, but the last thing I wanted to do was show up late at night while Luke’s mom and aunt were there. If there was one thing this town didn’t need, it was footage of Webb Sunday climbing the trellis to his handfasting partner’s bedroom.
“Maybe I’ll take him some breakfast in the morning,” I said.
Drew nodded. “Suit yourself. But know if I don’t see you at this table in the morning, I’ll get Aiden ready for the fair.”
I stood up and kissed his cheek before washing my beer glass and setting it in the dish drainer by the sink.
It took two hours of tossing and turning before I realized Drew’s words had wormed their way inside and taken hold of me. I needed to see Luke.
And I wasn’t willing to wait another minute.
Thankfully, the 4x4 was quiet enough to get close without disturbing his animals or the house. My plan was to text him when I got close if I didn’t get lucky enough to find a door unlocked.
But when I made my way onto the property, I noticed a dim light on in the trailer. Had he left it on by accident, or was he up this late working on his book stuff for the Spring Fling?
I opened the door to the trailer and peeked in. He was curled up in a ball, asleep on the bed, surrounded by stacks of books.
My heart squeezed with affection for him. He was everything kind and good. How would I ever do enough to deserve him?
I moved across the space and began pulling the books off the bed until it was clear. He was already dressed in an old T-shirt and pajama pants. I moved him under the covers before sliding in next to him and pulling him into my arms.
His eyes blinked open and met mine. There was a confused look but not a single ounce of resistance.
We didn’t speak. The time for words wasn’t now. Now was the time for action.
I kissed him tenderly, relishing the now familiar taste of him and reveling in the feel of his lithe body in my embrace.
My hands roamed over his body, under his shirt, down his pants. After a while, our hot breaths ramped up and filled the small space around us. We pulled each other’s clothes off and moved against each other with patience and reverence.
This was no longer simply sex.
It was hope and promise, a window into a lifetime of possibilities. It was an answer to a question I’d been avoiding, but one so critical to my future happiness, it made me almost dizzy.
He was here with me now, in my arms, in my heart, in every hope and dream I had for the days and years to come.
Somehow, he managed to come up with the supplies we needed, but for the first time, I fantasized about a time in the future we wouldn’t need the condom between us anymore.
If he was willing. If he would be mine for real.
When I entered his body, my eyes were on his. Not a word was spoken out loud, but I heard everything in his touch and the sounds he made, the way he welcomed me inside his body and held me tight.
This was it. It was everything.
All the pain and heartache I’d gone through to get me to this place were worth it in the end.
Because I was here now with Luke Williams.
And I wasn’t going to let him go.