CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Our Kind of Family
A warm summer evening settled over the farmhouse.
The chores were finished.
The horses had been fed.
Oscar had finally stopped chasing grasshoppers.
Kira sat quietly beside the porch steps, watching the sunset.
Winston snored so loudly that Luke laughed every few minutes.
“I think the whole county can hear him.”
Emily smiled.
“He doesn’t seem worried.”
“I don’t think Winston has ever worried about anything.”
? ? ?
The two of them settled onto the porch swing with glasses of sweet tea.
For a while, they simply watched the breeze ripple through the pasture.
Emily finally broke the silence.
“Can I ask you something?”
Luke looked over.
“You can ask me anything.”
She hesitated for a moment.
“It’s something people keep bringing up.”
Luke already knew where the conversation was headed.
“Children?”
Emily nodded.
“It seems like ever since we got married, everyone assumes that’s the next step.”
Luke took a slow sip of his tea before answering.
“I’ve noticed that too.”
? ? ?
Emily looked out toward the horses.
“I’ve been afraid to bring it up.”
Luke gently took her hand.
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t know how you’d feel.”
Luke smiled reassuringly.
“You don’t have to be afraid to talk to me.”
She took a deep breath.
“I don’t think I want children.”
The words hung quietly in the evening air.
Luke didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he smiled.
Emily looked at him curiously.
“You’re smiling.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because I was trying to figure out how to tell you the exact same thing.”
Emily blinked.
“Really?”
Luke nodded.
“Really.”
? ? ?
Emily let out a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
“I was so worried.”
Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“You don’t have to be.”
“I love our life.”
“So do I.”
“I love our home.”
“I do too.”
“I love our horses.”
Luke laughed.
“I had a feeling those weren’t going anywhere.”
Emily smiled.
“And I absolutely love our three goofy dogs.”
At that moment, Oscar let out a dramatic little whine from across the porch.
Luke chuckled.
“I think he heard you.”
? ? ?
Emily looked across the pasture.
“I’ve never felt like something was missing.”
Luke nodded.
“Neither have I.”
“I feel… complete.”
Luke squeezed her hand.
“So do I.”
He smiled warmly.
“Our family just looks different than someone else’s.”
Emily rested her head against his shoulder.
“And that’s okay.”
“It’s more than okay.”
? ? ?
Just then, Oscar came trotting over carrying one of Luke’s work gloves.
He proudly dropped it at Luke’s feet.
“Thank you, buddy.”
Oscar immediately rolled onto his back for a belly rub.
Kira calmly walked over and leaned gently against Emily.
A few moments later, Winston slowly wandered across the porch, looked at the two of them, sighed dramatically, and flopped down directly in front of the swing.
Emily laughed.
“I think they’re making sure we know they approve.”
Luke scratched Winston behind the ears.
“I’d say our family is all here.”
? ? ?
The sun slowly disappeared beyond the hills, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple.
Luke looked around at everything they had built together.
The farmhouse.
The barn.
The horses grazing peacefully.
Three dogs who each had their own unique personalities.
The woman he loved beside him.
He smiled.
“People will probably keep asking.”
Emily nodded.
“They probably will.”
“And we’ll keep giving them the same answer.”
She smiled.
“That we’re happy.”
Luke kissed her forehead.
“Exactly.”
Happiness didn’t have to look the same for everyone.
For Luke and Emily, happiness was quiet mornings on the porch, evenings in the barn, road trips, concerts, county fairs, horses in the pasture, and three beloved dogs waiting at the front door.
It was a life they had chosen together.
A life that felt complete.
And as the stars appeared above the farmhouse once again, neither of them felt they were missing anything at all.
They had found exactly the family they had always wanted.