It was after ten on the East Coast.
He would bet West and Abby were at the ranch house with the baby. Foster and Elias were gone to Elias’s house where Foster always stayed.
Braylon and Laken were staying at the house for sure. Talia lived with Jace a few miles from his mom. Rowan and Nelson were going to stay at a hotel, so he was guessing Nelson was still doing that.
“I’m not,” he said.
“Who is there with you?”
He got up and went to his bedroom. “People found themselves stranded at the airport. I helped a woman out. She’s really nice. A nurse. So if I get hurt up here, I’m in great hands.”
“You know, Rowan, I thought you were serious until the last few words. You’re always joking.”
So much for being honest. “That’s me,” he said, laughing. “Just wanted to make you smile. I’ll be fine. The fire is going. I’ve gotDie Hardon and a plate of snacks in front of me.”
“Sounds like the perfect holiday for you. But it’s the first you’re not home for Christmas.”
“I know,” he said, his voice dropping some. “But I’ve been home a lot this year. You just saw me last month.”
“I did. I worried you’d find some excuse not to come home. You can’t control the weather though.”
“I can’t,” he said. And if he could have come up with an excuse to miss another big family gathering, he might have.
He returned to the living room. Saylor was in the kitchen. He sat on the couch and she came out with a bottle of water, held it up for him and he shook his head, then pointed to the beer.
She laughed and grabbed him another.
She’d had one glass of wine while they decorated the tree, but nothing more.
“Are you going to come once things clear up?” his mother asked.
“Flights could take a few days to catch up. By then, I would have been back here and everyone else is going to be gone.”
Saylor opened the beer and poured it into the glass for him. He mouthed ‘thanks’ to her.
“True,” his mother said.
“Don’t get upset. I’ll call tomorrow, I promise.”
“A video call,” his mother said.
“A video call. You’ll see me in April for the wedding. Then once the babies are born in May.”
“I know, I know. I’ve got to go. Nelson is getting ready to leave.”
“You need to give him a kiss even though he’ll be back in the morning.”
“That’s right,” his mother said. “Love you, Rowan. Wish you were here.”
“Love you too.” Saylor got this sappy look on her face. Great. So much for the manly feeling he had earlier.
“I noticed you didn’t return the statement of wishing you were here.”
“You don’t miss a trick and never did,” he said, laughing.
His mother hung up after that.
“That was sweet,” Saylor said.
