Page 20 of Heart & Hope

I can’t look at her. The burning behind my eyes is too much. She squeezes my shoulders and rests her head on mine for a moment.

When Harry pushes through the white gate followed by Mackinlay, Louisa releases me and wanders back inside.

“Ruby, how’s things comin’ along?” Harry says.

His rugged features are an older version of his eldest son. And the man has intuition like I have never seen before, even in the events and planning business, where it is our job to anticipate what other people need without saying. He makes us come across like a bunch of hacks.

“Good, Harry. You get that little task sorted?”

He winks at me. “All set, darlin’.” He glances at his wife inside and then to his youngest son hanging in the tree. “Mum’s the word.”

Mackinlay, quiet as always, dips his hat and follows his father. He’s an enigma, that one. I know Reed loves him dearly. Every story he has told me so far has had his closest brother in it. I know Addy thinks highly of Mack.

When monkey sounds let loose in the trees again, I turn back to find the lights all done. Every ancient oak and willow is adorned with strings that will illuminate them into something like pure wonder in a few hours. Lawson jumps down from an old oak, brushing off his jeans and shirt as he goes.

He shoots me a smile as he heads inside. I wait for Reed. When he doesn’t appear like his brother did, I wander over to the last weeping willow and push my way through the curtain of swaying green. I don’t see him at first. Legs stretched along a branch, he’s sitting, leaning on the old trunk.

“Hey?” I call up.

A sad smile brushes his lips as he dips his head. “Hey, baby.”

It should be weird that he calls me that. But for whatever reason, it doesn’t bother me; it simply feels like something we have. This friendly banter that is sweet and casual.

“You coming down? We have a few other things to finalize.”

“Nope.”

“Reed, I need your help.”

He doesn’t respond, resting his head back on the trunk and closing his eyes.

Oh boy.

“Fine, I’m coming up.”

With that, his eyes snap open, and by the time his mouth opens to object, I’m on the second branch. I kick off my shoes and slide my sleeves up to my elbows as I find the next branch with one hand and push up with a manicured foot wedged in the fork below me.

As I reach the branch he sits on, his hand drops down and I slide mine into it. It’s warm and covers my own completely. Butterflies take flight deep in my belly, and I will the heat that has flooded my face to take a fucking hike.

Gentle hands guide me to the branch beside his and I plant my ass on it, not letting his hand go.

“You good?” he asks.

“Yes, thank you.” I let my gaze wander around the inside of this magnificent nature palace. It’s beautiful. The breeze that sways the soft tendrils of green adorning every single thin branch hisses. It’s magical. “This is epic, Reedsy. I love it.”

He chuckles. “Yup, one of my favorite spots.”

“I can see why.”

The silence that hangs between us is comfortable. I lay my head back and close my eyes. The overwhelming feeling of the world turning without me crashes in, and I snap my eyes open a heartbeat later.

“Thanks for doing this for Ma. She deserves it.”

His face is soft, eyes studying my face.

“You’re most welcome,” I breathe.

“Every year we always have big plans to make it special, but the five of us ain’t exactly party planners. Or that organized, come to think of it.”

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