Page 126 of Shattered Melodies

I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”

As we got back to work, I felt Peanut weaving between my legs, her purrs a constant, comforting presence. I reached down to scratch her ears, smiling as she leaned into my touch.

“You miss him too, huh?” I murmured. Peanut mewed in response, as if to say, “Of course I do, dummy.”

The next few hours passed in a blur of sawdust and sweat. Everyone was pitching in to get the barn ready for the fundraiser. Even Mom had rolled up her sleeves, painting signs and arranging decorations.

As the sun started to set, casting long shadows across the barn floor, Dad called for a break. We all gathered around a cooler of beers, gratefully accepting the cold bottles.

“Looking good, folks,” Dad said, raising his beer in a toast. “At this rate, we’ll be ready with time to spare.”

There were murmurs of agreement and clinking bottles. I took a long swig of my beer, feeling the cool liquid soothe my parched throat.

“So, Caleb,” Mom said, sidling up to me. “Have you heard from Liam?”

I nodded, pulling out my phone to check for messages for the hundredth time that day. “Yeah, he texted a few hours ago. Said the meetings were going well, but he’s exhausted.”

Mom’s expression softened. “Poor thing. I hope he’s taking care of himself.”

“Jimmy’s with him,” I reminded her. “He’ll make sure Liam doesn’t work himself into the ground.”

“True,” Mom said, then hesitated before adding, “And how are you doing, honey? Really?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I’m managing. It’s not easy, but I’m trying to stay focused on the fundraiser. On making sure everything’s perfect for when he gets back.”

Mom pulled me into a hug, and I let myself sink into her embrace. Sometimes, no matter how old you get, you just need your mom.

“He’ll be back before you know it,” she murmured. “And when he does, we’ll all be here to welcome him home.”

I nodded against her shoulder, feeling a rush of gratitude for my family. They’d been so supportive, so understanding. It meant more than I could ever express.

As the evening wore on and people started to head home, I found myself alone in the barn. Well, not entirely alone. Peanut was still there, curled up on a hay bale, watching me with those big green eyes.

Peanut’s purring was like a tiny motor against my chest. I couldn’t help but smile, remembering how Liam’s eyes had lit up when he first saw her. “You know, furball, your dad’s gonna flip when he sees how much we’ve done with the place.”

I glanced around the barn, pride swelling in my chest. It was really coming together. The fairy lights strung across the rafters gave the whole space a warm, inviting glow. Perfect for a fundraiser.

My watch beeped, reminding me of my lunch plans. “Shit, is it that time already?” I muttered, gently setting Peanut down. “Sorry, girl. Duty calls.”

As I headed out to the open area where the outdoor portion of the fundraiser would be held, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of excitement. This was going to be big - bigger than anything Oakwood had seen in years.

“Hey, boss!” one of the workers called out. “Where do you want these speakers set up?”

I pointed towards the makeshift stage we’d constructed. “Over there should work. Just make sure they’re not blocking the view from anywhere.”

As I supervised the setup, my phone buzzed in my pocket. My heart did a little flip when I saw Liam’s name on the screen. Damn, when did I turn into such a sap?

“Hey, you,” I answered, unable to keep the grin off my face.

“Caleb,” Liam’s voice came through, sounding tired but happy. “God, I miss you.”

I felt a warmth spread through my chest. “Miss you too, city boy. How’s New York treating you?”

He groaned dramatically. “It’s awful. All suits and ties and boring meetings. I’d rather be mucking out stalls with you.”

I chuckled, picturing Liam in a fancy boardroom, dreaming of horse manure. “Never thought I’d hear you say that. The country air must be getting to you.”

“Maybe it is,” he laughed. “Or maybe it’s just you. How’re the preparations going?”

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