Page 99 of Home in the Country
“I guess there’s that.”
“Hey man, I’m Case.” Tanner shakes Case’s hand and smiles.
“Briggs thinks it’s the coolest that you guys are twins.”
“He’s a great kid.” My brother shoves his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and scuffs his boot against the grass.
“Thanks. And thank you for…everything. Otto says you cleared things up at Smokin’ Joes and just for being great to Briggs. I,”—he rubs the back of his neck—“I didn’t know what to expect moving here, and it’s been weirdly nice.”
“I’m so glad we’re keepin’ him,” Case says to me with a grin, which I return.
“Me too.”
The rest of the evening is much of the same. Tanner is bombarded with well-wishers and stories of Clementine Creek and promises of delivered casseroles to welcome him to town.
Briggs falls asleep soon after Hank lights the bonfire, and Mama puts him in the room she’s made up for him. He’s her first grandson by all accounts, and her love for him makes me want to explode with happiness.
Fallon’s parents stopped by after getting back late from their trip, and I feel better than I have in years. Their acceptance and approval is a work in progress, but I don’t mind. My family is finally here together, and even though it’s different than I thought it’d look, I know in my heart it’s better.
“You’re amazing,” Fallon says on a dreamy sigh. She’s sitting on my lap with her head resting on my shoulder and her face turned into my neck.
“You are.” I kiss the top of her head, and Tanner looks up from his conversation with Sorren and gives me a small smile.
Sitting up slightly, Fallon turns and holds my face in her hands and stares into my soul.
“I didn’t know it could be like this. I thought I’d have to give up something to be here,” she murmurs quietly.
“I’ll give you anything you want, Princess.”
“You already have.” Kissing me gently, she pulls back and rests her forehead against mine. “This is everything.Youare everything.”
I kiss her sweetly in front of the fire before tucking her back against me to watch the flames dance into the night sky.
The soft sound of “Sweet” by Kurt Thomas plays from the speakers, and it’s everything I’ve never let myself dream could be real.
But tonight, holding my girl in my arms with my family all around, it feels like the first day of the rest of our lives.
33
OTTO
6 MONTHS LATER
“She’s going to say yes, right?” Tanner rolls his eyes like I’m a moron—which to be clear, Iammost of the time—but right now is not one of those times.
“I wouldn’t have helped you plan this if I didn’t think so.” He leans against the bathroom doorjamb as I turn back to the mirror. Taking a calming breath, I drag the razor down my face and rinse it under the faucet.
“Hey, I need to shave!” Briggs pops his head around Tanner and then looks from me up to his dad. He frowns. “You too, Dad.”
“Let’s go, Dad,” I tease and Tanner glares.
“Don’t start with me,” he grumps, but he can’t fight the grin as he steps up to the other sink.
Getting Briggs situated with his shaving cream and capped razor, the three of us look into the mirror and make the first swipe down our faces. A camera clicks to my left, and the photographer smiles.
“That was perfect. You guys are the absolute cutest.”
“I think you mean rugged and manly,” I say, puffing up my chest. She rolls her eyes and then gives me a placating smile.
