Ten Years Later…
Cal
“Dad!”
The shout comes from somewhere in the back half of the cabin, in the expansion we put on years ago, followed immediately by a loud crash.
A second later, another voice.
“I did not!”
“He started it.”
Even from out in my workshop, I can hear the voices loud and clear.
I shake my head, but don’t bother hiding the smile that crosses my face. There was a time in my life when I thought peace and quiet were the most valuable things a man could have.
Now, I know better.
It’s the chaos and craziness of having a full house that fills me now. And it’s a good thing, too. Because we sure have a lot of it around here.
A few moments later, our two oldest kids come flying into the shop, their younger sister on their heels. I have enough time to set down my wrench and force the smile off my face, faking a stern, I mean business, expression instead.
“Dad!”
“It’s her fault!”
I clean my hands on a rag and look at my son and daughter in turn, marveling at how all four of our children managed to get Willow's feistiness and sheer stubbornness. Although the baby is still too young for us to see the full extent of it. Yet.
It makes parenting…interesting.
“Slow down,” I say, careful not to take sides. I know better. “Is anyone bleeding?”
All three of them exchange glances.
“Dad!”
“What?”
“Nobody’s bleeding,” Ben, our eight-year-old, says with a groan.
“Good. Then I’m sure you’ll all survive.” I bend to scoop Emily, our four-year-old, into my arms and ruffle her red hair until she giggles.
“But, Dad!” Jessie, our oldest, is also the most stubborn and the least likely to let anyone get away with any perceived infraction. “He made a face at me.”
“Oh?” I pretend to look shocked for a moment as I turn around. “Was it anything like this?”
When I turn back to face them, I have my tongue out and my eyes crossed, and all three of them burst into a fit of giggles.
Satisfied that the situation is resolved, I sent them all back outside with a warning to stay out of trouble.
I know they won’t.
But that’s a big part of what keeps life on the mountain so interesting. I’ve only just picked up my wrench to turn my attention back to the engine I’ve been working on, when I hear another voice.
“Knock knock.” I look up to see Lilly standing in the door. “I thought I’d find you in here.”
“The baby’s sleeping,” I tell her. “Willow left about an hour ago, and I was hoping to get this engine done before…well, before.”
She laughs. “Perfect timing then.”
We’ve had a lot of changes in the last decade, that’s for sure.
The garage that was once more of a hobby than anything else has become a full-fledged business.
We have a dedicated shop in town, along with two full-time employees.
But I still prefer to spend my time working on trucks and cars right here on the mountain.
Especially since it means I can be here with the kids when Willow has a client to see.
Her clients are important to her. That’s how she’s managed to grow her home care business the way she has. Because she cares about others so much.
Behind all her sass and fiery attitude, she’s got a heart of gold with a very soft center. It also makes her an amazing mother. And a fabulous wife.
A wife I’m dying to go see.
“The kids all ready?” Lilly asks.
As if they can sense her, the three oldest come charging into the shop. “Auntie Lilly!”
They run straight into her arms, and Lilly starts to laugh as they all start talking at once.
Once more, I wipe my hands on a rag as I cross the floor to them. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Of course.” Lilly doesn’t hesitate. “We’re going to have fun, aren’t we, kids?”
They all start shrieking and laughing. I can only shake my head. I know how crazy it can get when we watch Luke and Lilly’s kids, or any of the other kids on the mountain. And since we’ve all at least four, to say it gets crazy is an understatement.
“I got this,” Lilly tells me, and I believe her. “I’ll bring them back in the morning. Now go get me the baby so we can get going. Everyone’s waiting.”
Less than two hours later, the kids have been safely sent to Luke and Lilly’s place, I’m showered and sitting at the bar in the Rusty Nail, nursing a glass of whiskey.
Sometimes, I can barely remember the man who used to sit in this exact same spot, drinking the exact type of whiskey, feeling sorry for himself. That man is long gone, and it’s all because of…
There she is now.
When the door opens, and Willow sets foot into the bar, it’s like time stands still. She’s still every bit as gorgeous as the day I met her.
Her beautiful red hair falls over one shoulder, and she’s wearing the green dress I casually mentioned was my favorite a few weeks ago. I’m not surprised she remembers. Willow notices everything. Especially when it comes to the people she loves.
And I’m lucky enough to be one of those people. A fact I never take for granted.
It’s only been a few hours since I’ve seen her, but still, something deep inside me settles as her gaze lands on me, and a slow smile spreads across her face.
I stand before she reaches me.
“Look at you,” she says with a wink.
“Look at me, what?”
“All cleaned up.” She raises a brow. “Not a speck of grease in sight.”
“Darling, it’s our anniversary.” I give her a spin. “I even put on the clean jeans for you.”
She laughs, and I take her hand so I can lead her to the back of the room and the dart board.
The Rusty Nail has cleaned up over the years and is hardly recognizable as the dingy place it once was.
Now, there’s actually some sunlight streaming through the windows, the floors have been scrubbed, and they serve the best cheeseburger around.
It’s nothing fancy, but it’s finally a place where you don’t need to worry about a game of darts determining your future.
Except tonight.
“Happy meet-a-versary, darling.” I pour Willow a glass of wine from the bottle I have waiting for us and hand it to her before pouring one for myself. “It’s been ten years since you walked through those doors and changed everything.”
“For the better, obviously.” She raises a brow.
“Obviously.”
We clink glasses. “Are you ready for this?”
“I think the question is, are you ready?” She gives me a sassy smile and sets down her glass, exchanging it for the handful of darts that wait for us, just like they do every anniversary. “The stakes are pretty high this year.”
“Is that right?”
“Oh yeah.” She swings her hips as she takes her position and turns to look over her shoulder. “Closest to the bullseye, gets anything they want tonight.”
Fuck. Me.
My cock is instantly hard.
I will never stop wanting my wife.
I walk up behind her and slide my hands around her waist, pulling her back against my chest for a second.
“Careful, darling.”
“Why?”
I lower my mouth beside her ear.
“Because if you’re offering me anything I want, there’s a very good chance we won’t be making it home before I collect.”
Her laugh is soft and warm and entirely too pleased with itself.
Then she turns in my arms, presses a quick kiss to my mouth, and hands me a dart.
“Guess you’d better aim carefully then, mountain man.”
Best. Anniversary. Ever.
And it’s only getting started.