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Chapter 28

A Very Long Night

Daniel

Harrison quickly followsCharlie into the house, but I hang back to enjoy the change in scenery. The air smells fresher and cleaner this far away from the city. That is, until a gust of wind blows the scent of cow manure my way.

Scrunching my nose and trying not to gag, I set to work hauling our luggage out of the trunk. By the time everything is inside, I’m drenched with sweat and in dire need of something cool to drink.

I follow the sound of Charlie’s booming voice through the living room and into the kitchen at the back of the house. Esther, Charlie’s mom, is in the process of pulling a tray of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies from the oven. She’s still as petite and short as I remember her being.

The second her kind, brown eyes land on me, her face breaks out into a warm smile. “Daniel!” She rushes over and wraps me in a tight hug. “It’s great to see you again, honey.”

I melt into her embrace, love and acceptance radiating from her in waves. When she pulls back, she takes my face in her hands and studies me with a maternal gaze.

“You’re looking well. A bit thin, though,” she adds with aslight frown. With a snap of her fingers, she smiles once again. “We’ll have to fatten you up while you’re here.”

I don’t have the heart to tell her that I’ve gained fifteen pounds since she last saw me—mostly in my ass and thighs.

Robert, Charlie’s dad, walks in through the back door and yanks off a set of gloves caked in dirt with his teeth. He’s a tall man with a sunburnt face, and his hands are larger than my head. He smiles widely at Charlie and me.

“Good to see you boys,” he says in a deep, rumbling voice. “How was the drive from Manhattan?”

Before I can respond, Charlie launches into a dramatic retelling of our journey. “Oh man, Dad, you wouldn’t believe it! The traffic was insane, like apocalyptic levels of gridlock. I swear, at one point, I think I saw a guy get out of his car and cook a full meal on the hood. But don’t worry; Daniel used his superior driving skills to navigate us through the chaos. And?—”

Robert holds up a hand to stop Charlie’s rambling. “You boys must be starving after thatharrowingjourney. Esther, why don’t you get them settled in the living room while I fire up the grill? I’ve got some steaks in the freezer, and they’re not going to cook themselves.”

Nodding, Esther ushers us out of the kitchen. “You heard the man. You three make yourselves at home. I’ll bring out some snacks to tide you over until dinner. And Harrison, again, it’s lovely to meet you. I hope you enjoy your time here.”

“Thank you, Mrs. McManus,” Harrison says politely.

“Oh, nonsense. Call me Esther, and my husband, Robert.”

We sprawl out across a couple of plush couches in the cozy living room. Harrison takes in everything with wide eyes.

Family pictures line the wood-paneled walls. A towering gooseneck lamp stands upright in the corner, waiting to be turned on. A huge set of antlers hangs above the fireplace—probably Robert’s idea of rustic decor. An old-fashioned TV set perches precariously on the edge of a tray table, giving the place an entirely old-school vibe.

A contented sigh escapes my lips as I lean back, shuck off my flip-flops, and place my bare feet on the coffee table. Charlie does the same, and Harrison soon follows after a bit of coaxing.

“This…is nice,” Charlie says, eyes closed and a dopey smile on his face.

“Very,” I agree, wiggling my toes for added measure.

“I think I’m going to enjoy Bomont,” Harrison says, kicking mine and Charlie’s feet playfully. “Thank you for the invite, McManus.”

“Yeah, man. Thanks.” I echo.

Charlie gives us two thumbs-up, unwilling to open his eyes. And then, the three of us fall asleep to the ticking of a grandfather clock nearby.

Harrison groanswith delight as he takes his second bite of a steak that’s been seasoned to perfection. I nod, inclined to agree. It’s tender and juicy, and I’m already reaching for another slice before I’ve even finished my first one.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a steak this good,” Harrison says, smacking his lips.

Robert beams. “That’s because it’s been raised with love.”

Harrison gazes out at the farm, a sprawling landscape that stretches for miles from the backyard of the McManus home. A red barn is situated nearby, where the horses, cows, and other farm animals live. The chicken coop is closer to the house, providing an interesting soundtrack of clucking to go with the sizzling steaks.

“Tell me about your farm, Charlie,” Harrison says.