Page 99 of Call It Home

“She is,” Reid said as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Someday I’ll tell you about how she pulled a gun on me the first time I met her.”

“You shouldn’t have broken into my house!”

“Sounds like a good story. I’d love to hear it. Maybe over a beer at Ferg’s? My treat, obviously.”

Reid shook my hand. “Sounds good.”

“Seriously, Reid, I don’t know how to thank you. I didn’t know such a thing was possible, but even if it was, I wouldn’t have known anyone to ask.”

“Glad to help. Fortunately, I know a little about the law and figured there had to be a way. We’re a small town, so we don’t have a lot of parolees around, but I’ll work with the courts and parole board and make sure Trey is taken care of if he chooses to come to Sterling Mill.”

“Oh, I hope he does,” Cam exclaimed. “I want a chance to get to know him. And Mama Rae is just itching to spoil him and make him all of his favorite foods.”

“When he’s ready, he should come to Sunday brunch out at the farm,” Chase chimed in. “After all he’s been through, he might just want some peace and quiet, but there’s plenty of that on the farm, too. He’s welcome to stay there, even if he doesn’t work for me.”

I reached out to shake his hand, but he pulled me in for a hug. “Glad you guys could work things out.”

Cam gave me a little nudge and tipped her chin toward the wall. Leo was standing with his hands in his pockets, looking uncertain.

“Excuse me a minute,” I told the others before I walked over to him. “Leo. It’s been a long time. I can’t get over what you said back there.”

“It’s good to see you, Mac.”

He looked like he wanted to shake hands but wasn’t sure he should, so I reached out first. “Good to see you, too. I have to ask, how did you know about this?”

“Not all that sure myself, other than that fancy lawyer of yours showed up a couple of days ago. Said he’d heard the small part of the story I’d played in your life, at least the part before I selfishly screwed it up. I’m sorry, son. Molly and I… we loved having you boys around. But I was so filled with anger and grief. I’d give anything to change that. I like to think that she’s looking down at us now, smiling. I know she’d approve of my decision. And I wasn’t kidding either. You boys get the farm. I think it will sell for a good price.”

“That’s more than generous, Leo. Why not sell it now and live off that money? Do something great for yourself? Travel a bit or something.”

“Eh,” he shrugged. “Never was much for that. I was always happiest on the farm with my Molly. She was home to me.” He nodded over at Cam. “I think you might understand that a bit.”

I followed his eyes over to where Cam was talking animatedly with the rest of her family.Myfamily. I’d been a little stubborn, scared to trust in it, but I knew in my heart that’s exactly what they were. It would just be a matter of waiting for things to settle down, but I’d make that a reality in the eyes of the law.

“You take care now, son.”

Leo started to turn to leave, but I called out to him. “Leo, you mind if maybe I pop by and visit every once in a while?”

His weathered face lit up, and he appeared to stand a little straighter. “I’d like that. I’d like thata lot.”

As I watched him leave, Cam snuggled up to me. “What an amazing turn of events, huh?”

“But the best kind.” I started to kiss her, but an indignant shriek caught everyone’s attention.

“What do you mean, I have to appear in court? I’m not the felon here. I’m a victim. Meanwhile, you’re letting real criminals run free.”

The harried officer tried to explain. “Ma’am, when we ran your license to get into this building, it was flagged as having too many unpaid parking tickets. A Law Enforcement Notice was mailed to you over two weeks ago, so now you have to pay the tickets and the extra fines as well as appear before the Records Management Division.”

“That’s just ridiculous,” she spluttered and continued to argue.

Reid watched with amusement beside me. “She’s the one who said, and I quote, ‘a person should pay what they owe.’ I guess that’s karma coming back on her.”

I burst out laughing. “Come on. Let’s go celebrate.”

* * *

The evening wasalmostperfect. It wouldn’t be truly perfect until Trey was actually released, but at least that would happen in the next day or two. Christian assured me the paperwork would be underway by morning and usually only took twenty-four to forty-eight hours. I didn’t know what place Trey would want to call home, but we’d start at my apartment in Virginia and give him some breathing room to figure things out. Once I knew he was feeling settled and we’d had some time to spend together and talk, I’d give him some space to make that decision.

In the meantime, Cam and I were committed to driving back and forth as often as we needed to see him or each other. At least this time, we knew any separations were short term. I was grateful for her continued understanding.

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