I answer immediately. “Hey.”
Her voice is warm, familiar, home. “Where are you?”
“At the ranch,” I say, looking around the cabin, the walls, the windows, the way the light slants through. “Cami and Jack wanted to show me something.”
“What kind of something?” she asks, suspicious in that way she gets when she thinks people are plotting behind her back.
I glance out the window at the field, the wide-open space, the sky that looks too big to be real.
“A big something,” I say, and my voice goes soft without me meaning it to. “Can you come out here later? Around sunset?”
There’s a pause. “Ollie,” she says slowly. “Are you about to spring something on me?”
“Maybe,” I admit.
She huffs. “You better not be pranking me. I’m tired.”
I smile. “I’m not pranking you, baby. Bring Owen and Ellie when you come.”
“Okay, we’ll be there. Can I at least get a clue?”
“Nah, you’re going to love this. Just come out. Love you, honey,” I say again, quieter. “I’ll see you soon.”
Her tone changes. Softer. “Okay, I’ll get the kids.”
My chest tightens in the best way. “Okay,” I say. “I’ll meet you by the lodge.”
“I love you,” she says, like it’s easy now, and the sound of that coming from her lips makes me close my eyes.
“I love you too,” I say, and mean it with my whole damn chest.
I hang up and stare at the cabin again, and for the first time in my life, the future doesn’t feel like something I’m running toward. It feels like something I’m walking into.
A truck crunches along the dirt road and pulls up. Poppy climbs out first. She pulls Ellie out of her carseat and bundles her up in a blanket. Owen follows, already bouncing on his heels like he can’t stand still, eyes darting across the land like it’s aplayground the size of a dream. He’s going to love what I’m about to tell them, but first I have to tell Poppy.
“Okay,” Poppy calls as she approaches, narrowing her eyes at me, but she’s smiling. “What’s going on?”
I step closer and take her free hand, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. “Come with me. Just us. Cami’s gonna take Ellie and Owen to the barn.”
She lets me lead her to the barn, Owen following behind us with a million questions, Ellie making soft little noises against Poppy’s chest like she’s talking to her, too.
“Hey,” Cami says as she walks out of the barn, ruffling Owen’s hair. “There’s my Owen and Ellie.”
“Hey, Cami. Do you know what the mystery is about?” Poppy asks, her eyes darting to me and back to her as if she has some answers.
“I do, but I’m not telling,” she singsongs.
Cami takes Ellie from Poppy and straps her to her chest. “Let me take my sister. You’re never too early to start learning about horses, baby.”
“Come on,” I tell Poppy, grinning as I take her hand. “There’s something I want to show you.”
Owen pops up instantly. “Me too?”
I stop and look at him, really look at him. He’s watching me closely, hopeful but cautious like he always is when things feel big.
“Yeah, buddy,” I say. “You especially.”
That does it. His face lights up.
