Page 41

T he past two weeks have been filled with nothing but happiness.

It’s now early August, and my days have been a perfect mix of ranch life, afternoons with Caleb, and late nights with Jensen, talking on the porch and tangled up in his sheets before drifting to sleep in his arms. It’s been a little slice of heaven, and one that I’m clinging to as long as possible.

The three of us have gathered around the kitchen table.

Caleb and I just came in from playing with Ziggy in the backyard, and now that Jensen’s logged off work for the night, it’s time for the surprise we have for him.

Caleb’s seated beside me with Jensen across the table.

I slide the box I grabbed from my room toward Jensen and he raises an eyebrow in question.

“What’s this?” he asks.

I nudge it closer. “Only one way to find out.”

“Yeah, Dad,” Caleb chimes in with a toothy grin.

Jensen smiles the instant Caleb speaks. In the past couple of weeks, Caleb’s confidence has blossomed, and he’s even made a new friend from summer camp, a boy named Jake.

They’ve had a few playdates, and we have another one scheduled for this weekend.

He occasionally clams up around strangers, but at home, he’s chatty and curious and it’s more than Jensen or I could’ve hoped for.

“Alright, alright.” Jensen chuckles as he reaches for the box. “But if this thing has teeth, I’m blaming both of you if it bites.”

Caleb giggles. “No peeking till I say.”

“Cross my heart,” Jensen replies, tracing an invisible X over his chest and averting his gaze as he lifts the lid with exaggerated suspense.

Caleb scoots to the edge of his seat, practically buzzing with excitement. He helped me pick out the gift and has been counting down the minutes until he could give it to Jensen.

“Okay, look now, Dad!”

Jensen sets the lid aside and blinks in disbelief as he lifts a honey-brown cowboy hat from the box. He traces the stitching along the brim, handling it like a prized possession.

He glances at me. “Did Walker or Heath put you up to this?” There’s a hint of amusement in his voice.

I grin, shaking my head. “Nope. I’ve been wanting to get you one for a while, and Caleb and I figured it was high time you had one of your own.”

Caleb leans over to tug on my sleeve.

“What is it, little man?”

“Can I show Dad the second surprise?”

I smile warmly. “You sure can.”

“Awesome!”

He races from the kitchen, his footsteps echoing as he bounds up the stairs toward his room.

Jensen raises a brow. “There’s more?”

“Trust me, you’ll be happy there is.”

A minute later, Caleb comes back into the room with a miniature version of Jensen’s hat perched on his head. Jensen grins, picking up his own from the table and putting it on .

“We match.” Caleb beams.

Jensen scoops him into his arms. “Sure do, partner.” He looks over at me with a cheeky grin. “We make a pretty great pair, don’t we?”

“The most handsome cowboys around.” When Jensen first got here, he might have scoffed at me using that term, but now he accepts the compliment without a second thought.

“You’ve got to wear them to the ranch house. Mama Julie’s going to want a picture with you in yours, Caleb,” I say.

“Can we leave now!?” he exclaims.

Mama Julie and Pops invited us over for another barbecue tonight.

They’ve asked Caleb to come over several times in the past few days, and I’m pretty sure they’ve picked up on whatever is happening between me and Jensen.

They haven’t asked us outright; although, I’m certain Mama Julie will bring it up sooner rather than later.

I glance at the stove clock to see that it’s almost six.

“Yeah, we should head out, or we’ll be late,” I say, pushing my chair back as I stand. “I’ll get the macaroni salad from the fridge after I put my shoes on.”

“Sounds good,” Jensen says. “Caleb’s boots are in his room. We’ll get those so we can head out.”

On my way to the hallway, I notice I have an unread text waiting.

Backroads I could cry.” When her gaze shifts to Jensen, and she realizes they’re wearing matching hats, real tears well up in her eyes.

She’s always considered Jensen part of the family, and I can only imagine the rush of emotions she’s experiencing as she’s watched him go from hating this small town to making peace with his roots and embracing them. Especially now, with his son by his side.

“What’s wrong?” Jensen asks Mama Julie, his concern evident.

“I’d cry too if I had to look at you in that hat,” Heath says, stepping in from the deck with a smirk. “Caleb pulls it off like a champ. You? Not so much.”

“Don’t listen to Heath. You both look darling,” Mama Julie coos, stepping in to defuse the situation as only she can. “Now hush and take this out to your father.” She thrusts a foil-covered tray into Heath’s hands. “The meat should be done soon.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replies, wisely holding his tongue.

“Jensen, you grab the veggie skewers,” Mama Julie adds, passing him a casserole dish full of them.

“Sure thing.” He balances the dish in one hand and offers Caleb his free one. “Come on, bud. Let’s go show Pops your new hat.”

Caleb grins, taking his hand as they follow Heath onto the deck.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I tell them, wanting to double-check that Mama Julie’s all set before I do.

She’s back at the counter, cutting peaches, and I stand behind her.

“Where’s Walker?” I ask.

“He said he was going out.” She rolls her eyes.

“I’m guessing he’s meeting the usual crowd at the bar.

That boy strolls in at two or three in the morning like it’s no big deal.

” She lets out a disapproving click of her tongue.

“You think you’re done when they turn eighteen, but truth be told, you worry even more once they’re grown if they’re making the right choices or getting mixed up in something they shouldn’t. ”

“Not me, though. Right?” I tease .

Mama Julie leans over, pinching my cheek. “You’re the exception, honey.”

It’s a missed opportunity that Heath and Walker aren’t around to hear it, so I can brag that I’m the only one Mama Julie’s not constantly worrying about.

Walker’s the source of the most stress, hands down. He’s always got some woman in a frenzy and has a habit of starting fights when he’s had a few too many drinks. Heath, on the other hand, is all business and usually too rigid for his own good.

Sure, I have my flaws too, but they’re not the kind that have kept Mama Julie up at night. My birth mom did enough of that for both of us when I was growing up.

A timer goes off, and she hurries to the oven, pulling out a tray of homemade rolls. The tops are golden brown, and the kitchen fills with the rich scent of butter, making my mouth water. She’s a magician in the kitchen and she treats every meal like a special occasion.

“Jensen looks at you like you hang the moon,” she says casually.