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Chapter Ten

Roen

“I love you, little Sprite,” Daddy kissed me for the millionth time this morning. “Let me know as soon as you get there, please.”

“I will, Daddy. I promise to be safe. I love you too.” I fired off a text to my parents to let them know I was on the way. “One more thing, Daddy. Will you still read to me every night?”

“I’d love nothing more.” Daddy gave me a big hug and buckled me in. “Be careful with my boy.”

Even knowing I’d be back in a few days, it was much harder to say goodbye than I thought it would be.

Watching Daddy wave at me in the rearview mirror almost had me turning around.

Having my parents mail my stuff was on the tip of my tongue to ask, but I wanted to see them.

After months apart I was well past due for a visit.

A short three and half hours later I pulled up to my parents’ house and texted Daddy to let him know I’d arrived. Right as I hopped out, I was pulled into my mother’s waiting arms.

“Our baby boy is home!”

“Momma, I missed you.” A hug from my mom could cure most things. She always had a way of making me feel better and bringing the happies out.

“Where are your bags, son?”

“I um, I left them there. I’m moving in with Kyler.”

Dad shook his head and smiled. “Come on inside. You can fill us in on your new Daddy over lunch.”

I may not have been home for a while, but I talked to my parents at least once a week and texted daily with Momma, Donna, and my sister Ellie. Speaking of which…

Ellie barreled through the door in her usual whirlwind style. “It’s a hot mofo outside.” She was right. I’d been spoiled by the beautiful weather living it up in northern AZ. “The prodigal son returns.” Ellie was a bruiser and pulled me into a bone crunching hug.

“Can’t. Breathe.” I wasn’t a large man, but Ellie was a body building bouncer at a local club. Same height as me but while my lithe build allowed me to fit into tight spots perfectly for my day job it wasn’t made for sisterly bone crunches for sure.

“Ellie, let your brother go.” How many times over the years had mom said that to us? But her words worked their magic, and I was able to breathe once again. Ellie never bullied me, playfully teased at times but she always made sure I knew she loved me and was there for anything I’d ever need.

“Sit, tell me all about your trip.” It’s funny that while neither of us had lived here for a while we still sat in the same seats at the dining table as we had when we were growing up.

“I wanna hear about this Daddy.” Dad tried to take on a tough guy stance which he was anything but. “Make sure he’s good enough for you.”

Ellie’s eyes widened. “Daddy, huh?”

As soon as I saw daddy’s face in my head, I smiled.

“That grin says it all,” mom’s smile matched mine. “My baby boy is in love.”

“I am. He’s my boss Mark’s best friend.” Dad’s eyes widened. “He’s the one who introduced us.”

“How’s that gonna work exactly?” Dad translation—would it fuck up my job.

“Mark has actually hired me to run the jobs we got up there plus work at the campsite where I’ll be living.” I saw it as a win-win, plus I enjoyed being busy.

“So, when do we get to meet this Daddy?” Mom was excited because I’d found someone while dad was more concerned with the technical details. I loved my zany family.

“I thought we could do a computer call with him later tonight. He’s busy today with all the guests checking out.” Thankfully he had planned ahead and hired a local cleaning crew to come in and turn the rooms over since the new guests arrived tomorrow.

Mom added the grilled chicken to the pasta salad and tossed it, then we each served ourselves. The food this past week had been great but there was nothing like biting into old favorites made by mom.

“I had to make my baby his favorite since he’s finally home. Well, temporarily. When are you moving?” She sniffled, more for show than anything.

“Next weekend. I wanted to hang out this week and spend some time with the fam and with Donna and Journey.” Playtime with my BFF and her little was past due.

“I for one am all for being empty nesters, get to run around naked now.” Dad was only teasing…I hoped. But his words forced Ellie to choke and shoot tea out of her nose. “Ellie May, that’s not very ladylike.” She almost flipped him the bird until she remembered who it was. “Good save little girl.”

Inside Sprite had a giggle fit over Ellie getting into trouble. Some things you just never outgrew.

Shortly after lunch, Ellie left but said she’d be back for the call tonight.

I made a quick trip to the hardware store for a few boxes and tape, then got to work packing.

I was excited for this new step in my life, but it was kind of sad to see twenty-four years of life fit into half a dozen boxes.

Granted, furniture and my special curtains were staying here.

I’m sure if I sent mom the measurements for my new bedroom window she’d make me new ones.

“Whatcha thinking, baby boy?” Mom came in and sat on the bed. “Want me to ship the gnomes up?”

“I was hoping to leave those here for Kyler and me when we come to visit and maybe mooch some new ones for my home up there?” I always felt like her little boy when it was just the two of us and I absolutely ate that up.

“There’s no mooching to it. You know I enjoy doing it plus I have all this free time now with no babies to take care of. It’s a quick drive, maybe Dad and I could mooch a weekend away and sneak in a visit.”

“No mooching to it,” I winked, throwing her heartfelt words back.

“We’d love to have you anytime. It’s so beautiful and peaceful there mom.

You’ll love it. We have a lake with trout and smallmouth bass, outdoor firepit and playground.

Twelve cabins in total and we live above the office.

” We. I loved how easily that rolled off my tongue.

“There’s a huge mess hall and lots of hiking trails. ”

Her smile always triggered mine. “Sounds perfect.”

“It really is. So different than the fast-paced Vegas life.”

“Sounds like heaven to me. Be careful or your dad and I may end up moving ourselves into your new life.”

“Bring it, mom. We’d love to have you there.”

Daddy was all about family and answering that for both of us was a non-issue. I envisioned us building more cabins and maybe even one a bit deeper into the woods just for us. How ridiculous was it that I was this freaking excited about all the possibilities our new life together held?

As if he heard his name, my phone vibrated with a text.

Daddy: How’s it going, Sprite?

“Smile wide, mom.” I leaned in beside her and snapped our picture and sent it off.

Daddy: Hi mom! You look just like her.

Me: That I do. She’s excited to meet you. What time do you want me to call?

Daddy: Everyone has checked out so I’m going to help the cleaners with the rooms. Is eight too late?

Me: Eight is great.

Daddy: Love you, Sprite

Me: Love you too, Daddy

“I know that look all too well,” Mom teased as I stupidly grinned at my phone. “I couldn’t be happier for you, baby. All a mother ever wants is for her children to be healthy and happy. I can already see how happy Kyler makes you.”

“Ridiculously.”

“I’ll let you get back to it then. See you for dinner.”

I finished packing what I wouldn’t use for the remainder of the week and then went in search of my dad. “Exactly where I thought you’d be.” In the workshop we built together and being in Vegas you better believe it was equipped with air conditioning.

“Remember when we built this shop?”

“I do. I remember everything you’ve ever taught me.” Literally everything I know when it comes to carpentry.

“Gonna be hard not having you around,” he shook his head. “It’s been hard not having my best friend here and now that you’re moving away...”

“Man dad, way to make a guy feel bad. I’ll be less than four hours away.

I was just talking to mom about you guys coming up whenever you want.

” I wonder if Mark would let me bring dad on from time to time for some of the bigger projects in town.

I’ll definitely mention it to him. “Might have some projects that require an extra set of hands. You game to be on call?”

“You bet I am. We make one hell of a team.”

“Always have and always will.”

Dad’s main love aside from his family was for woodworking.

But there wasn’t much call for that where we lived.

He’d been a maintenance tech for as long as I could remember.

Many times, over the years he’d turned down the opportunity to move up and manage teams. That wasn’t his thing.

He was happy with a nine to five and weekends off to be with the family.

Volunteering for the Habitat jobs was something we started doing together when I first showed an interest in what he did.

While woodworking wasn’t my thing, my father crafted much of our home furnishings, citing that cheap ass particle board shit wasn’t worth the prices they charged.

He loved creating and bitch as he may about the price of wood, he did it for the love of doing it and the pride he felt in a job well done.

“Come on, let’s finish sorting the tools so you can take the rest of yours with you.”

I didn’t realize this would hit my dad as hard as it had.

I mean, I’ve been gone for months now and took my important tools with me.

But yeah, this was a tough one. Dad turned on the classic rock station as we sifted through our combined collection.

We sang along to the familiar tunes and had a few beers.

May or may not have been a bit tipsy when mom got us for dinner.

“Smells like a brewery in here,” she waved a hand in front of her nose like we stunk. “A bit of dinner will help soak up that alcohol.” She glanced around at the piles we’d made. “Did the two of you accomplish what you set out to do?”

Dad and I stared at the piles. I don’t know about him, but I forgot what our end goal was. Dad just started cracking up.

“No fucking clue.”

It was rare for dad to use that word, which triggered more laughter. He was having a blast and that was what mattered most to us.

“Let’s wash up and eat, son.”

“Sounds good, dad.” We were a mess. Some of these tools were covered in grease and shit I didn’t even want to guess at. Hell, I could care less about the grime. For me this was more about time spent with dad and we’d had a great afternoon.

And he’d called me his best friend.

After we ate, I helped mom with the dishes then showered before we called Daddy. And of course, Ellie showed up right on time. Hopefully she didn’t say anything off key though I guess that’d be trial by fire or familial baptism. Not sure which was worse…

I grabbed my laptop and headed to the kitchen.

Here goes nothing.

Mom and dad took a seat on each side of me while Ellie crouched down behind us, so all four faces fit into the camera. When Daddy’s face filled the screen, the butterflies went crazy, and I squealed. “Daddy!”

Daddy smiled wide at me. “Hello Sprite, it’s so good to see your face but who do the others belong to?”

“This is my mom, Kat, my dad Kory, and behind us is my sister, Ellie.”

“It’s wonderful to virtually meet you all.” Daddy just had a way of making everyone smile. I wonder if he knew just how special he was? Guess it was my job now to make sure and tell him that.

“I hear you’ve got quite the set up in the pines. Everything up to code?” I rolled my eyes at my dad but only Daddy saw it and winked.

“Absolutely. Mark and Roen wouldn’t have it any other way and neither would I. You’re all free to visit anytime you wish and I hope you do.”

“Free?” Dad questioned.

“Family is always welcome and stays for free.”

Now he was talking dad’s language.

“In fact, Mark and I were talking about having Christmas up here with the family. Can we pencil the Clarke crew in?”

“Yes!” Mom shouted and dad and Ellie laughed.

“Kyler, I think that’s a firm yes from the Clarke matriarch. You and Roen sort out the details and let us know where to be and when.”

“Will do, Kory.”

“We’ll let you be with Roen. Take care of my boy, you hear?”

“Loud and clear, Kory. I adore your son and can promise you I will.”

I snagged the laptop and practically ran back to my room. I heard Ellie in the background asking my parents to explain the Daddy sitch to her. Dad groaned and walked away leaving mom to deal with it.

“Did Ellie just ask what I think she did.”

“Yup. I’m sure I’ll get grilled later. She’s kind of a daddy herself so I’m not sure how she’s confused.” I got settled into bed and curled up with Gnomey and Otis. “How did your day end? Did the cleaners get done?”

“They did but I now see the need for more handson deck during our busy season.”

I sat up so fast it sent poor Gnomey flying. “Do you need me to come back now?”

“Absolutely not, Sprite. It was just a lot of cabins to turn over in a day, but we did it and Mark was still here helping too. This week will be light because the Girl Scouts planned their own events and are doing their own cooking. I’ll just be there for anything they forgot.

The cleaning crew will be back next Sunday as well. ”

“Maybe I should head back on Saturday instead of Sunday.”

“No, I know you wanted to play with your friends at Cordes on Saturday night. Sweetheart, I’ll be fine but thank you for your kind offer. Trust me, there will be plenty for you to help with once you’re home.”

Home.

Home with my daddy and as much as I loved hanging out with my family I couldn’t wait to be in Daddy’s arms again.

“Now, how about that story, Sprite?”