Page 25 of Hello Handsome
“I think that’s him,” Isabella whispered.
I followed her gaze up the escalators, and my mouth fell open. That was my baby in his uniform. His hair wasn’t long anymore; it was cropped close. And the training had hardened his features, taking away the last vestiges of his boyhood and making him look more like a man.
My eyes stung as I croaked, “Enzo.”
Isabella yelled and waved, “Enzo!”
He caught sight of us, lips spreading into a lopsided grin that was sohim.
Other people were noticing us now, smiling between the sign and Enzo. It felt like we had to wait forever for the escalator to lower him to the bottom, but as soon as it did, he ran toward us, dropping his bag on the floor and nearly knocking me over with the force of his hug. “Mom, I missed you.”
I couldn’t help it; I cried against his uniform as I stroked his back. “I’m so glad to have you home, my son.” Tears streamed down my cheeks at having him in my arms again. Now both pieces of my heart were here at last.
When he pulled back to hug his sister, I took in his profile up close. He was still my son, even with the uniform and short hair and less baby fat in his face.
Isabella grinned, rubbing his arms. “Since when did you get buff?”
He brushed her off, laughing. “I’ve always been buff, Isa.”
His sister made an exaggerated point of spinning her finger around her ear, and he laughed in response.
The feeling of warmth spread through me. All was right in the world. I picked up Enzo’s rucksack, heavy with stuff, and said, “Let’s get some food in you.”
Tugging the bag from me with a chiding look, he said, “Can’t wait.”
We walked out to the car in the parking garage, and I pulled out my phone to set directions to Enzo’s favorite place in the city. That’s when I realized I had a new text message... from Gray.
It was a picture of his horse, Blister.
Gray: He says he misses you. Up for another ride sometime?
My heart did an excited little dance as I read the text. Gray was thinking of me. He hadn’t given up on me. I still had my friend.
I thought about what to type, but I could feel my kids watching me.
“Is that Gray?” Isa asked, a curious look to her eyes.
Enzo tried to look over my shoulder–apparently the Marines hadn’t gotten the nosiness out of him–but I hurriedly put my phone face down.
“Today isn’t about that.” I smiled at both of my kids. “It’s about finally having our family together again.”
16
GRAY
I instantly feltnervous after sending that text. Which was wild, considering I’d handled angry thousand-pound animals on the daily. According to my counselor, Dr. Benson, my body didn’t know the difference between the two “threats.” So I practiced box breathing like he taught me and tucked my phone back into my pocket so I could finish saddling Blister for a ride.
At first it felt strange to change something I’d been doing all my life, but the breathing exercises really worked for me, releasing some of the tension in my chest. I wished I’d had the tool years ago, not just for me, but for my boys as well. It certainly would have helped Hayes and Knox, who seemed to struggle the most after their mom’s passing.
Once the cinch was tightened around Blister’s midsection, I gathered the reins and walked him out of the corral, going for a ride to check the cattle. Some people thought I was old-fashioned for checking them this way, but I didn’t mind.
Blister and I had just made it into the main pasture when I heard my phone ping from its spot, buttoned into my western shirt pocket. I gently tugged the reins to get Blister to stop and fumbled with the button, eager to get my phone out and see if the message was a response from Aggie.
Aggie: Enzo leaves in ten days. A horseback ride after that sounds amazing. Tell Blister I miss him too. And that I’m still sorry about his name.
I chuckled at the message, feeling a little lighter thanks to her response. Then I buttoned my phone back into place, not wanting to lose it on the ride. Maybe wecouldbe just friends despite our false start a couple months ago. I sure hoped so.
Even though I panicked about my date with Aggie, I still cared for her deeply. I wanted the best for her. And maybe I needed time to become the man she deserved.
