Chapter 45
Sage
The farmhouse was framed in the sunshine when we pulled down the driveway.
Even the sound of the gravel crunching along the driveway elicited happiness in my heart.
I wasn’t sure if it all worked together as some dopamine reaction or what, but it never failed to hit me in the feels.
The late-afternoon sun slanted through the lilacs that were already starting to bloom.
Their purple clusters swayed gently in the light breeze, releasing a sweet, heady fragrance.
“I like it here.” Opal bounced in the back of the truck, practically vibrating. “The food is always yummy.”
“I like it too.” I turned to give her a grin.
Her ponytails were lopsided now after all the wrestling, but it just made her cuter if that was possible.
Every morning, Rhodes tried so hard to fix her hair, sitting with Opal between his thighs as he tried to shape her hair into some order.
I’d help, but it was always a bit of bonding time for them, and I didn’t want to interrupt. “The farmhouse always makes me happy.”
This place, with its weathered wooden siding and wraparound porch dotted with rocking chairs, wasn't just a house—it was the heart of us Holts. It represented a place where we all found family and love.
The area around the house was already packed with vehicles, and it was clear we were among the last to arrive.
Rhodes put his truck into park, his strong hand lingering on the steering wheel for a moment before he turned to me with that steady gray gaze that always seemed to see right through my walls. “Ready?”
“I’m good.” I was. Being here at home made my day even better, and settled some of the edges after the run-in with Catherine.
Opal was already unclipping herself, her little legs kicking with excitement. "Grandma Maggie's! Can I show her Cheese's new trick that we videoed?"
We’d managed to capture Cheese retrieving an acorn cap in his little teeth. It was just about the cutest thing ever. If she taught him how to play fetch, that would be hilarious.
“I’m sure that she’d love to see it.” Opal giggled, her curls bouncing as she hopped out, racing toward the porch with the energy only a kid could muster.
“Let’s go, sweetheart.” His touch was warm, grounding, a reminder of how our routines had woven together these past weeks—nights tangled in sheets that made my skin tingle and mornings with Opal before school.
Before we were even up the steps, I could hear the chatter of everyone gathered and shot a smile at Rhodes as Opal swung the door open. She’d been here a few times now and wasn’t shy about letting herself in, which Maggie adored.
Fish gave a happy yip and came to bump around us, nudging into Opal and licking at her as she giggled. I’d swear that if Kipp and Hattie would let her, she’d steal Fish for her very own.
The air was thick with the smell of pot roast simmering in the old cast-iron Dutch oven on the stove, mingled with what I was positive would be mashed potatoes and fresh herbs.
It was too early for them to be from the garden, but Maggie kept a small greenhouse of her own up against the barn in the early spring.
The house was packed full, just as I expected.
Chloe was already at the counter dicing vegetables with precise, rhythmic thwacks.
“Geez. Finally! I was going to call and find out where you were. Sage, get to making the honey butter, or it’s going to end up all grainy.
And the salad tongs. East is no help at all. ”
East rolled his eyes dramatically. "Hey, I preheated the oven! That's a contribution. And I built a whole play thingy for this squirt.” He made a grab for Opal as she dashed by with Fish.
“No, no, no.” She squealed as she dodged. “You can’t catch Fish and me.” She darted around Wade’s legs, almost knocking him over. “Out of the way, Uncle Wade.”
“I see how it is.” East laughed. “I got to step up my game.”
“Always.” Lila agreed, giving him a peck on his cheek.
Kipp, lounging against the counter with Hattie nestled into his side, rubbed her stomach as if he was already picturing a baby bump there.
Maggie had just come in from the back garden door and spotted Opal. "There's my girl! Tell me all about that kitten of yours. Cheese, right? Did he learn any new tricks?"
Opal barreled into her, words tumbling out in a rush. "He chases his tail and climbs the curtains! But Daddy says no more climbing, or he'll be in time-out. I tried to put him in my backpack for school, but Daddy caught me.”
A knock sounded at the front door. Ellis hovered there, his massive frame looking almost comically out of place among the domestic bustle.
“Don’t just stand there. Come on in.” Phiny’s expression was a mix of amusement and resignation, but she tossed him a cookie from the cooling rack.
Ellis caught it mid-air, a rare grin cracking his scarred face. “Does this count as a date?”
“Nope. Don’t push your luck.”
He winked at her, apparently not caring that he got shot down again.
“We’ve got some garden work we’re supposed to take care of after dinner, so I’m glad you came. There’s going to be lots of shoveling, and I don’t want to do it all.” Kipp tried to snatch another cookie just as Lila slapped his hand away.
“That would be like your fourth one. Save some room for dinner, you oaf.”
We settled around the massive oak table, plates heaped high with tender roast slices glistening in rich gravy, mounds of creamy mashed potatoes flecked with chives, and vibrant steamed veggies, colors popping against the old white plates that we’d used for family dinner since forever.
Chloe had even made a salad since there were a few finicky eaters when it came to steamed veggies.
"Okay, but seriously, that playhouse we built? A masterpiece. Though Rhodes here almost bolted the slide upside down. Military precision, my ass,” East said as he chewed around a forkful of potatoes.
Rhodes laughed, deep and rumbling, as he cut the pieces of roast for Opal's plate. "Hey, I was distracted by your 'expert' advice. 'Put it there—no, there!' Make up your mind, man. My expertise lies in other areas. You’re the building guy.”
“Expert is going a little far.” Kipp pointed his fork at East. “This guy once built a treehouse that collapsed under a squirrel. Remember?"
“I can picture it now.” Hattie leaned against Kipp’s shoulder. “If we’re building our kid a treehouse, maybe we should make sure it’s safe before we approve it for the kiddos.”
“I’ve improved,” East said grumpily. “I built a house for you guys and everything.”
Hattie snorted. “True, true. There are a few windows that are a little crooked, but you did build a house.”
We all laughed at the look of horror on East’s face. It was blatantly untrue that there were any crooked windows.
Lila rolled her eyes as she passed the bread basket. "Hattie and I could build something twice as sturdy, and with style."
Chloe, munching on a carrot, chimed in with a grin. "Style? Please. You'd add fairy lights and call it done. But hey, if we're voting, Sage and Opal’s fairy houses win—those things are magical. Opal, show us your best one next time?"
"Mine are getting real good! And Cheese guards them from bad fairies. Well, sometimes he stomps them.” Opal beamed at the attention.
The laughter swelled, warm and enveloping. Chloe bumped my elbow mid-bite and whispered, “East mentioned Catherine showed up at the market. We're here if you need to talk about it.”
“I’m good. I handled it.” I felt good about it.
East caught my eye from across the table, his expression careful and assessing.
My oldest brother was nothing if not protective, but I felt steady.
Catherine might think that she could insert herself back in Rhodes’ life, but it wouldn’t be through me.
"We've ramped up patrols around the shop. Anything feels off, you say the word." Wade leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.
Rhodes chewed thoughtfully as the banter flowed back and forth, then leaned close to me so I could hear. “Your family's incredible. The way they just... fit everyone in. Opal's lucky to be part of it." He squeezed my knee under the table, and I saw the admiration in his eyes.
“They like you, too.” Warmth and pride bloomed in my chest. My family was incredible.
As plates emptied and people grabbed cookies for dessert, I slipped away to the garden with Maggie.
The screen door creaked shut behind us, muting the indoor laughter to a distant hum.
The garden still needed to be turned over for spring planting.
That was what she wanted us to do tonight after clean-up, but maybe I could catch a quick conversation with her.
As I helped her gather some of the shovels and tools we’d need, I tried to figure out how to broach the topic.
"Mags," I started, my voice barely above the clang of metal as we maneuvered the tools, “I wanted to talk to you about... before I came here to you and Levi.”
She peered at me as we stacked everything by the garden fence.
“I wondered if you might want to talk about it, but I don’t have much to tell you.
Every placement was different, but yours was especially so.
They were very stingy with the information.
Your records were sealed tight. Even after the adoption.
We never knew the whole story.” She pulled me close for a side hug, giving me a long look.
“You don’t know anything more about where I came from?” I was confused. Surely they would have been told something. Kids didn’t just appear from thin air.
“The agency only shared the very basics, and they weren’t forthcoming.
We knew you were coming from a placement in Idaho.
” She was thoughtful. “But we weren’t sure if that was where you were originally from.
They said something tragic happened, but that was all.
There were no names or any details, and Levi and I always figured that if you wanted more information, we’d help you when you were ready.
” She gripped me tightly. “We loved you so much from the second you came here. I hope you know that.”
“I do.” The answer was automatic. “I’ve always known that.”
All I had were occasional nightmares and that sensation of cold dirt under my nails.
Just shadows I couldn't quite grasp, and ones I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
Was that something I wanted? To peel back layers that might hold things I didn’t want to know?
Or leave it buried, let the Holts' love be enough?
"Whatever path feels right, we're all going to be walking it with you," she murmured, her voice a steady anchor. “This about that Alan fellow?”
“I guess.” I wasn’t sure how to answer. “Is it wrong not to want to know?” Raising my eyes to hers, I wasn’t sure if I was expecting to find judgment, but there wasn’t any.
“Nothing is wrong. Your life is your own, Sage. If knowing the past would help you with your future or settle things, then you should find out more. But it isn’t wrong to be happy with your life the way it is.” She gave me an extra squeeze. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
We lingered a moment longer, the garden's peace wrapping around us like a blanket, before the others tumbled outside all at once, Fish in the lead with Opal hot on his heels.
“No weird vibes lately?" Wade asked, nudging me with his shoulder.
Another subtle check, wrapped in casual concern. I nodded, cookie midway to my mouth. "All quiet. Feels... normal."
Normal, but that faint prickle was still there, like eyes on my back even now. But surrounded by my family, it was easy to dismiss.