Chapter 14 #2
“No worries. I have one in my truck,” Leo said as he opened the back door and picked Luke up before putting him inside. He ensured he was buckled properly before he closed the door and opened the passenger side door for me to enter.
Such a gentleman. Even after all these years, he still held some of the traits he’d had when we were together.
“Thank you,” I said as I climbed inside. Leo closed the door and ran around the front of the truck.
The truck still smelled the same, that new car smell that you love when you purchase a new vehicle. I never understood how it still smelled brand new all the time, but when I looked over at Leo I noticed an air freshener hanging from the turn signal.
We spent so many days in this truck, driving down the back roads of Haven Valley, my bare feet propped up on the dash with the windows rolled down and the radio turned up. My heart hurt at the memories that crashed into my mind.
The slamming of the driver’s side door brought me back to the present.
Leo’s bright smile waned as he glanced over at me sitting in the passenger seat, but he quickly recovered as he looked over his shoulder and smiled back at Luke.
“You ready to go, bud?” he asked Luke as he started the truck.
“Your truck is so cool, Dad. Let’s go,” Luke replied as he kicked his feet and hit the back of my seat.
“Alright then,” he said as he buckled up and put the truck in reverse.
I buckled my seat belt and looked out the passenger window as he drove the familiar backroad to his parents’ ranch.
“Are we going to the ranch?” Luke asked.
“Yeah, we are,” Leo answered.
“Yes!” Luke beamed.
During the drive, I kept my stare out the window so I wouldn’t glance over at Leo.
Seeing his strong hands gripping the steering wheel might make me long for the days when his hand used to reach for mine, and how our hands would settle on the seat between us; every so often one of us would squeeze the other’s hand, no words being spoken, just a subtle reminder that we were thinking of the other person.
We’d oftentimes end up in Willow Bend, a couple hours away from Haven Valley, another small town where we’d just walk around in the shops or stop off on a side road and lay in the bed of his truck as we stared at the clouds above, my head rested on his shoulder with his arms wrapped tightly around me.
Those were the days when everything was simple, and the only worry we had was when we’d get to spend our days together.
“You okay over there?” Leo asked, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Yeah, just lost in thought. I … ummm … wanted to say thank you,” I whispered, my eyes focused looking out the window.
“For?”
“Fixing the porch steps.”
“How’d you know it was me?” he asked and I looked away from the window over in his direction. His cheeks were tinged pink as he blushed.
“I texted Gus thanking him and it wasn’t him. He said I should thank my neighbors and I knew it was you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’ll always do anything to keep you and Luke safe. Even if it’s only a piece of rotting wood,” he said with a smile.
I nodded over at him and turned back to look out the window, mulling over his confession as we continued the drive to the ranch.
The rest of the drive we didn’t speak another word to each other. My mind ran rampant, and my nerves increased when Leo slowed the truck and pulled up to the familiar wrought iron gate with the cursive C and R in the center.
“You have a gate?” Luke squealed in excitement.
Leo and I both chuckled as he entered the code. The gate slowly opened, and Leo drove forward.
“This house is huge,” Luke said in amazement.
Turning around in the seat, I watched Luke’s eyes grow big as he leaned forward to take in the sight.
The Courtrights had a beautiful home. We’d all spent many nights gathered on the front porch while the sun set enjoying sweet tea.
I vividly remember how Leo and I along with his siblings would bring Mason jars in the front yard and catch lightning bugs.
One night I’d caught the most, and my jar illuminated with the lightning bugs as I held it up in front of my face.
Leo started to switch between calling me firefly and cara, but back then, I’d loved it when he called me cara more.
I shook off the memory as I turned back around and settled in my seat while Leo drove the rest of the way down the dirt driveway.
Leo parked behind a truck I didn’t recognize, and I unbuckled my seat belt and picked up my bag off the floorboard.
Leo got out of the truck, and I opened my door and hopped out, putting the straps of my bag over my shoulder.
Leo got Luke out of the truck and set him down.
Turning to face them both, I saw Luke hiding behind Leo’s leg.
I’d never seen him act shy before. I wanted to pick him up and carry him away from here, maybe ask Leo to take us back home if Luke wasn’t ready, but I refrained.
Instead, I waited to see what Leo would do and how he’d handle this situation.
“You okay, buddy?” Leo said as he turned around and knelt in front of Luke.
“What if they don’t like me?” I heard my sweet boy whisper as he looked at the ground and shuffled his feet. My eyes filled with tears at his vulnerability.
“They are goin’ to love you, little man. I promise. What are you so scared about?” Leo asked softly as he ran the back of his hand over the side of Luke’s cheek.
Luke shrugged and shuffled his feet some more.
“How about this? If you get scared, you give me the code word and we can go back to your mom’s house,” Leo suggested.
Luke slowly looked up at Leo, some of his unease dissipated.
“What’s a code word?”
“It’s a secret word we come up with that tells me you’re uncomfortable and only you and I know. If you say the word, then I’ll know you need to leave,” Leo explained, shocking me a little at his softness and understanding.
“You won’t be mad if I use it?” Luke looked up at Leo, his eyes filled with worry over how Leo would respond.
“Not at all. We will just make up an excuse to leave. No questions asked. Now what should our word be?” Leo asked as he gently took Luke’s hands in his.
“Dinosaur,” Luke said, and I smiled at his randomness.
“Alright. You say dinosaur, and we’ll leave. But, little man,” Leo started.
“Yeah,” Luke whispered.
“I think you’re really going to like it when we go inside. Your grandma Lillian loves to cook and makes some of the best food. And you’re goin’ to love what she made tonight,” Leo said, and Luke’s ears perked up at the mention of cooking.
Leo had messaged me earlier and asked what some of Luke’s favorite foods were. I had a feeling he was going to relay that message to his mom so she could make them tonight. Based on what he’d just told our son, my inclination was right.
“Okay. Let’s go see what she made,” Luke said as he gripped Leo’s hand. I waited for them to pass me by before I followed behind.
Looking up, I saw Lillian standing in the doorway waiting for us to come up the porch. I wasn’t sure how long she’d been standing there since my focus was on Luke and Leo’s interaction, but the tears in her eyes indicated she’d seen the exchange between her son and grandchild.
At the sight of Lillian, Luke paused and looked over at Leo.
“It’s okay, buddy. This is my mom, Lillian, your grandma,” Leo said softly as he put his hand on Luke’s back. His fingers moved back and forth to soothe Luke as he guided him forward.
“Hi, Luke. You want to come inside and see what we’re havin’ for dinner? I hear you love chicken fingers and mac and cheese,” Lillian said to Luke as she held out her hand.
“Did you use breadcrumbs to make the chicken fingers?” Luke asked as he took her waiting hand. Lillian looked up at me with an amused smile. I shrugged my shoulders, trying not to laugh at my sweet boy’s obsession with knowing how people cooked their food.
“I sure did,” she told him as she walked them inside; Leo and I followed behind her.
I’d never get over how homey Lillian made their farmhouse style home feel. The minute you walk inside, the soft hues just make you want to curl up on the couch with a good book and a soft, fuzzy blanket draped over you as the sunlight beamed through the sheer curtains that covered the front window.
We walked through the front room and into the massive kitchen, where Luke stood on a step stool with Lillian as she showed him all his favorite dishes she’d made. Leo’s entire family sat at the table as they stared over at Luke and watched him in awe.
“You made all my favorites. How’d you know?” Luke said as he stared down at the food still warming on the stove.
“A little birdy told me,” Lillian replied as she looked up at me and winked.
“Birds can’t talk,” Luke said as he turned to her and gave her a funny look.
“You’re right. It’s just an expression. Are you ready to eat?”
“Oh yeah,” Luke said, and Lillian helped him get down before he walked over to the table and looked back at me to figure out where he should sit.
Leo walked over to the table and picked him up and helped him get settled into the wooden chair, and took the seat right next to him.
Lillian carried everything over to the table, and sat down at the table and the only other seat at the table was beside Luke.
I sat my bag on the island before I walked over and nervously took the empty seat.
Luke tugged on the side of my dress as we waited for Leo’s dad, Sawyer, to say grace.
“Yeah, buddy,” I whispered as I looked down at him.
He motioned for me to come closer, and I leaned down so he could whisper in my ear.
“Who’s all these people? Like what are their names,” he asked in a soft voice, his little hand cupped in front of his mouth to hide what he’d asked.
I did the same and whispered back, “Why don’t we let your dad introduce you? That’ll mean a lot to him.” He nodded at me as he put his small hands in his lap and waited patiently.
“Who’s this little guy?” Sawyer asked as he gave a heartwarming look to Luke.
“This is Luke. Luke, this is everyone,” Leo said.