Page 54 of Holiday Pines

They met at the door.

“Hey,” Jake said. He looked tired. There were shadows under his eyes.

“Hey.”

“Can we talk?”

Wes glanced toward the living room, where Henry was watching the morning news. “Let’s go to the barn.”

They walked in silence, frost crunching under their feet. Inside the barn, Jake turned to face him.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I have no right to tell you how to live your life.”

“You were upset about Alvin.”

“That’s not an excuse.” Jake stepped closer. “You were right. I don’t know what it’s like to have responsibilities like yours. I don’t know what it’s like to have a father.”

Wes’s throat tightened. “I’m sorry too. What I said about you not understanding?—”

“Was true.”

“No. It was cruel. And I didn’t mean it the way it came out.” Wes looked down at his hands, scarred and rough. “I’m scared, Jake. All the time. Scared of losing the farm, scared of losing Henry, scared of... this. Us. What happens when you leave?”

“I’m not leaving.”

“But your job?—”

“I mean, yes, I have to go back to Atlanta for meetings. But I’m notleavingleaving. Not unless you want me to.”

Wes looked up. Jake’s eyes were earnest, worried.

“I don’t want you to leave,” Wes said quietly.

“Good.” Jake’s shoulders relaxed. “Because I have something to show you. I need you to take tomorrow off.”

Wes almost laughed. “Tomorrow?The Saturday before Christmas. I can’t just?—”

“It’s already handled.”

“What do you mean?”

“Tucker, Evan, Chuck, and Brody are covering the farm tomorrow. All day. I confirmed with Tucker on the phone lastnight. I figure four strong men might be able to replaceoneof you… for a day, at least.”

Wes stared at him. “You asked them to?—”

“I asked Tucker if he could help. He said he would do one better and recruited the others. His exact words were, ‘About damn time someone got Wes away from this place for a day.’”

“I don’t understand.”

Jake took his hand. “I want to show you something. Three somethings, actually. Will you trust me?”

Wes thought about the four men volunteering their time, about Jake arranging all of this, about the earnest worry in those kind blue eyes.

“Yeah,” he said. “I trust you.”

The next morning, Wes stood in his kitchen, watching through the window as Tucker’s truck pulled up, followed by Chuck’s SUV. The four men piled out, laughing about something.

“Morning, sunshine,” Tucker called as Wes opened the door. “Ready for your mystery date?”