Page 77 of Make You Mine

The backyard at my grandparents' place was expansive. Nestled in one corner was a small barn, its red paint weathered but still vibrant. Adjacent to the barn was a chicken coop. A fenced-in area stretched along one side of the yard, providing a safe haven for Grandma’s menagerie of rescues, including Larry the Llama.

Near the house, the outdoor kitchen was a hub of activity and warmth. Built from rustic stone, it featured a large grill and a wooden table. A canopy overhead provided shade for those rare sunny Oregon days.

As Ren and I walked through the yard, I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. Each corner of this place held a piece of my past, and I hoped Ren loved it here as much as I did.

“Hey, sugar! My grandfather stepped out of the sliding door that led to the back of the house. “Is this your new fella? Your mama told me all about him.” He stuck his hand out, and Ren took it. “Nice to meet you. I’m Joel.”

“This is Ren,” I introduced them.

“Nice to meet you, too.” Ren smiled as they shook hands.

“Welcome to the Honeybrook. Make yourself at home. What’s mine is yours.” He took off, heading for the fire to sit by my grandma, who waved us over, gesturing to the chairs next to her.

“Oh, hey.” My eyebrows raised in surprise when I spotted Hunter Cassidy sitting next to Paige. They’d gone all through school together from kindergarten to high school graduation. They’d always been friends. Hunter, much like Ren, was nothing but tall, dark, and handsome, as were all the Cassidy brothers, including Spencer. Their family owned an auto body and repair shop between Sweetbriar and Honeybrook Hollow.

“You know Hunter Cassidy, right, Ren?” Grandma introduced him. “Spencer’s brother. He’s helping Piper’s grandpa restore that old Cadillac he got back when he was going through his car show phase.”

“There are no ulterior motives at all, right, Grandma?” Paige playfully called her out.

“Nice to meet you,” Ren said.

Hunter laughed. “You too. It’s good to see you, Piper.”

“You too,” I answered as my grandmother winked at me.

“I do what I do, and I hardly ever think about it,” she said airily.

“Things usually work out, so quit your fussing, Paige. I have a knack.”

“I’m not fussing?—”

Hunter choked on a laugh as he slid an arm around Paige’s shoulders.

“Yeah, quit your fussing,” he chimed in, nudging her gently with a playful light in his eyes.

“Where are the kids?” I asked. I was a good sister; I could tell she was getting overwhelmed by the attention.

“Down at the pond,” she told me. “They’re letting the goslings crawl all over them.”

“I thought geese were mean?” Ren said as he took a seat next to my grandma.

“Not when they grow up like pets,” I explained. “Every animal out here has Grandma and all of us to love on it. They’re all pretty friendly. And when the mama goose trusts you, then you have fluffy little balls of feathers to cuddle.”

Paige looked up at Hunter, a soft smile crossing her lips. “Do you remember when we used to come out here and play for hours?” Her gaze was distant as she spoke.

I wanted to hug her. It was like for the first time since her divorce she was feeling something besides pissed off.

He nodded, his arm still resting comfortably around her shoulders. “Of course. We had a lot of adventures out here. Remember that time we tried to build a raft in the pond, and it sank immediately?”

She shook her head. “How could I forget?”

“Maybe we should try again sometime?” He said, his voice warm.

Paige rolled her eyes, but her soft smile didn’t waver. “Maybe, but let’s not involve the kids. I don’t want to be responsible for any disasters.”

“The two of you were always so cute together,” Grandma mused with a satisfied smile flitting across her face.

Hunter studied Paige with mock seriousness. “I don’t know about me, but she’s still pretty cute.”

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