Page 144 of Take This Heart
When Milo arrives a few minutes later, looking like a snack I want to inhale, my pulse picks up. This time in the best way. I feel like I haven’t seen him in months instead of early this morning. I walk toward him, grinning, and his eyes are drinking me in too, like he can’t ever get enough. Kevin gets to him first, twirling excitedly and then pressing his back end into Milo’s shins.
“Hey, little guy.” Milo crouches to give him a thorough scratch. “It’s good to see you too.”
Since Milo’s been sleeping at the lake house, Kevin’s gotten attached to him too. He still sleeps with my dad part of the time, but most times I wake up and Kevin is curled around Milo’s legs.
Milo is a granny whisperer and a dog whisperer too.
All I need.
I walk the rest of the way and when I reach him, he straightens and pulls me in without a word. He kisses me like he’s missed me too. It’s quick, but it grounds me.
“You made it,” I say when we break apart.
“Of course. There’s no way I’d miss this.”
He looks around, taking in the low buzz of my family spread out between the house and the water, and takes my hand in his.
Kevin herds us toward everyone and we let him lead.
By the time the sky turns a dusky lavender, we’ve lit a bonfire down by the shore. My dad wanted a fire and S’mores and he’s getting whatever he wants. Grayson hands out the marshmallows to everyone, and the heat flickers across our faces as we hold our sticks above the flame.
I get lost looking at the colors of the fire.
“You okay, buttercup?” Dad asks next to me.
I think about brushing it off like I would’ve in the past. But this is my dad and I don’t want to shove my feelings down anymore.
“I’m trying to just be hopeful about your health, but you know me, I still worry. And…Bruce came by this morning, trying to stir things up.”
He huffs. “Did he threaten you?”
“Not me…more like…Windhaven.”
“He can stir all he wants.”
“You don’t sound worried.”
“I think we’re building something worthwhile and it’s rooted in love. Whatever he tries to bring our way, we still have each other. He’ll always be empty and alone unless he learns to love.”
A log pops, sending a swirl of sparks in the dark.
“Remember when we’d do these bonfires when you kids were little? It was always your mom’s idea. My brain was full of work and she’d know how to draw me out of that, how to focus on what was important. I’m grateful she taught me that.”
I blink fast, swallowing the lump rising in my throat. “I’m grateful she did too. She was such a good mom, and you’re such a good dad too.”
“Goldie, being your dad…you and your brothers’…it’s been the greatest gift I’ve known.”
I swallow back a sob and poke him in the side. “Now you’re just trying to make me cry.”
He chuckles and wipes his eyes too. “Nothing wrong with that.”
“You’re right,” I say, leaning against him.
“Hey,” I hear behind me.
I turn and it’s Ava. She hesitates at the edge of the firelight.
“You came,” I say, smiling. “Would you like a S’more?”
