Chapter 14
Leslie put the scrambled eggs and bacon on the table before she called up the stairs, “Breakfast. Last one down does the dinner dishes.”
Thundering down the stairs, the two boys came running into the kitchen and took their seats.
“As soon as we finish, we’ll do our chores and then hike up the mountain. If you finish within the hour, we might even have time to fish,” she suggested.
“Yeah,” Conner said, shoveling his food into his mouth.
“Manners,” she reminded him.
Glancing at Tucker, she took in his features. Even if the steely grey eyes didn’t give her son away, the same brown hair and stocky build as his father surely did.
“What has you down today?” she asked as Conner put his plate in the dishwasher.
Shrugging, Tucker played with his eggs.
“Don’t you want to fish?” she asked, watching him.
“Why did you get mad at Conner’s brother yesterday?” he said, peering at her. “I heard you talking.”
Leslie’s stomach dropped as she laid her fork down on the table. “Come here,” she said, “Hurry while Conner’s upstairs.”
Rising from their chairs, she led him onto the front porch and sat on the swing.
“I’m not upset with Owen. We disagreed about something. It’s nothing to worry about,” she assured him.
“Can I ask you something else?” he asked hesitantly.
“You know we talk about everything. What’s on your mind?”
“Why do I look like Conner and Owen? He pasted our pictures on the photo, and I resemble all of them,” he confessed.
Her heart raced, wanting to protect her son from the pain she felt years ago. It seemed like another lifetime. She and Owen matured over time, and it didn’t seem fair to hold him back from getting to know Tucker.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled Tucker close.
“A long time ago, Grandpa Jeremiah made a mistake. He hurt his family. Owen left because it hurt too much to stay. Eventually, all the other brothers left, too. Grandpa Jeremiah tried to apologize, but the damage he caused felt irreparable. It’s why sometimes he seemed sad.
Jeremiah wanted his family back on the mountain, and he didn’t know how to make it happen.
Sometimes, when you hurt people, saying sorry doesn’t mend their hearts.
You have to prove it by your actions and hope they’ll forgive you. ”
“Does Owen want Conner to live with him?” her son asked with worried eyes.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly.
“Why do we resemble each other?” Tucker asked, peering at her.
“Because when Grandpa Jeremiah made his mistake, Owen left before I told him about you. He joined the military, and it made it impossible to reach him for a long time. Owen’s your dad,” she said gently.
“He didn’t know until he came here for Grandpa’s funeral.
When he came yesterday, he wanted to talk about you. ”
“Does he want to take me away?” he asked nervously.
“No, buddy. We’re trying to figure out everything. Right now, he’s grieving for his dad and planning a funeral. It’s important to give him time to feel sad, and then we’ll talk.”
“Do you think if he knew about me sooner, he might’ve come to see me?” he asked hopefully.
Leslie’s heart dropped. She thought Owen loved her to the moon and back, and he left without even saying goodbye. How did she tell her son she didn’t know?
Sighing, she played with his hand. “Do you remember Colin’s dad? He frequently deployed on missions, and his family didn’t know where he worked or for how long. Your dad did the same thing. Even if he wanted to return, his job to protect our country comes first. Do you understand?”
Tucker stared at the field around them and thought for a moment. “Do you think he’ll ask me to go eat with him like Conner?” he asked hopefully. His eyes searched hers, desperately searching for some sign Owen wanted him.
“I’m sure he will. We must be patient with him.
His dad passed away, and he wants his brothers, your uncles, to come to the mountain.
He’s sad about Grandpa Jeremiah like you and he needs to feel sad for a bit.
Then, I’m sure he’ll want to introduce himself,” she explained gently, praying Owen wanted to maintain some sort of relationship with her son.
“Can I tell Conner? Does it make us related by blood?” he asked excitedly.
“Why don’t we wait until your dad returns?” she suggested. “It’s time to go to the mountain and do the chores. We can’t let the animals go hungry. Why don’t you get Conner?” she asked, changing the subject.
“All right,” Tucker said, sliding off the swing. “When Owen returns, can I tell Conner?”
“You bet,” she said with false excitement. “Until then, it’s our secret. You and Owen deserve to meet one another before you tell anyone else,” she warned sternly, making sure she drove the point home.
“Pinky promise,” he said, holding his small finger up for her to seal the deal.
“Let’s hurry. If we want to hike and find a hawk, we need to do it before the rain.”
Tucker ran inside the house, yelling for Conner at the top of his lungs.
Shaking her head, she entered the house and loaded the dishwasher.
Owen still made her heart pitter-patter, but her son’s needs came first. Unfortunately, she didn’t know what Owen planned.
She only knew she’d guard her heart and never let him destroy her again.