Page 75 of Home in the Country
“What? My husband is sexy as fuck, and I’m good at it.” She taps her finger to her lip. “There was that one time he almost ran off the road, but he rewarded my efforts handsomely.” Her grin is wicked, and I can’t help but blush.
Looking over, I see Cheyenne blushing, but she’s nodding along.
“You too?” I ask incredulously.
“It’s fun learnin’ what you like, what your partner likes.”
Marlee, Isla, and Cheyenne all nod as Rhea tips her glass and finishes her drink. “Ugh, y’all are the worst.”
“I bet I know someone who could help you with that,” Isla says into her glass, and Rhea shoots a look at her. It’s a weird standoff, but I could probably guess what Isla is implying.
“Who needs a refill?” Cheyenne grabs my glass, and it breaks the tension in the room. Isla grins and Rhea rolls her eyes, but there’s a smirk on her lips.
“Wild Nights” by John Mellencamp plays over the speaker, and with each joke and story, I feel the tension start to dissipate.
I’m lucky. I’m so damn lucky that I fell into this group of women that took me in without question, in the town that I love where my son is thriving. I’ve been so worried about the next thing that I truly haven’t stopped to appreciate thenow.
Smiling, I take a deep breath and resolve myself to do better, because right now, anything feels possible.
24
FALLON
After my night with the girls, I went home feeling refreshed. The guys had not only left my house better than when they arrived, but Hank had made muffins for the week and put dinner in the crockpot. Someone had mowed the lawn and tidied up the garden, a vase full of flowers replaced the ones on the kitchen table, and my son hadn’t stopped smiling.
Briggs and I spent the day together after I’d kissed the hell out of Otto on the back porch. Otto had given me a wicked grin before sauntering off, and this time, I hadn’t been so sad to see his backside because I knew he’d be here again soon.
Briggs and I had gone to a small indoor aquarium a few towns over and then had lunch without a care in the world. There was no talk of schedules or school or laundry that despite him still being so little, I’d never stay caught up with.
At night, we lay in his bed reading books and talked about Otto and Tanner and the Thayers and how we were creating a family of people we loved and loved us in return. Talking with Briggs was eye-opening. Somehow, my baby had grown into a little boy, and while he was still only five, he understood more than I gave him credit for, and my heart was bursting with love and pride and everything in between.
Unfortunately, our smooth sailing comes to a screeching halt on Thursday morning. There’s exactly zero warning before Briggs comes blazing into the kitchen dressed in navy blue shorts and a white polo shirt with sailboats on it.
“Mama! You promised!”
I’d done no such thing, but that point is moot as far as my kindergartner is concerned.
“Briggs, I’m so sorry, baby, and Daddy is so sorry. He wanted to be here.”
He wails louder, and if I wasn’t still in my probationary period with the school, I would just keep him home. Tanner and I had discussed the fathers’ luncheon and up until today, it hadn’t been an issue for Briggs.
“But Josh said that my daddy doesn’t love me and that’s why he’s not here.”
That little shit.
Crouching down to his level, I frame his splotchy red face in my hands.
“You aresoloved, Briggs. Mommy has always told you that no matter the distance and no matter the time, you are loved.”
I put his little hand over my heart and place mine overtop.
“What do you feel?”
“Your heart.”
“And who does it beat for?”
“Me.” He sniffles but there’s a small smile there too. Whipping out my phone, I pull up the video chat with Tanner.
