“Sure, whatever you need to tell yourself,” Danny teased. He lowered his voice as he continued. “He’s not actually that bad but we like to give him a hard time.”
“I heard that, asshole. You’re making me regret hoping you’d make it home,” his brother quipped.
That ache in my chest intensified. Danny sounded so damned happy and carefree. I wasn’t sure he’d ever feel that comfortable here. It was obvious he was the type who thrived from having family near him.
“Would you leave me alone so I can finish talking to my boyfriend?”
“Tell him that he’ll have to deal with us if he hurts you,” Carson warned.
“Make sure he knows I’d let them. I don’t ever want to do anything to make you suffer, sweetheart,” I responded.
I could guess how those words affected Danny, based on the dramatic gagging noises in the background. There was bickering, and then it was Carson on the line. “If you make him smile like that all the time, we’re going to be just fine. But next time he comes home, you’d better come, too, so we can interrogate you.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” I promised. “I’m realizing I’m not a fan of him being so far away.”
There was a sharp inhale on the other end of the line, and I realized how that might have sounded. I quickly explained myself. “It’s not that I want to keep an eye on him to make sure he’s doing what I want, Carson. Danny’s special, and the house feels emptier when he’s not here with me.”
“Fuck, that’s so sweet, I think I’m going into sugar shock. Okay, I’ll give you back to Danny. Take care of him for us, will ya?”
“Always.” That was an easy promise to keep. I’d devote my life to making sure Danny had what he needed, no matter what that might be.
18
Danny
The dayI dreaded finally rolled around. Today was my grandparents’ anniversary party, and most of the town would probably show up at some point. Again, it was just the way things were in Harmony Grove.
“Mom, do you have an iron? My shirt’s wrinkled from being in my suitcase.” The kitchen smelled like cinnamon and brown sugar. My stomach rumbled, already looking forward to Mom’s coffee cake. It was a staple any time we had somewhere to be. She said it was just enough to stave off the hunger of her boys without filling us up so we wouldn’t eat lunch.
And lunch was the one thing I was looking forward to about today. The ladies from the church had mad potluck game. I’d probably regret stuffing myself later, but I’d enjoy every bite of what I could get my hands on.
“Bring it out to me.” Mom took off her apron and hung it on the hook by the door leading into the laundry room. “And bring your slacks, too. If I’m already doing Billy’s and your dad’s, might as well add one more outfit. I swear, why is it none of you boys can think of these things more than an hour before we have to leave?”
She might grumble about our inability to plan ahead, but the smile on her face said she relished these moments. Mom had always been the type who loved nothing more than taking care of her family. It was something she didn’t get to do as often now that it was usually just her and Dad in the house. Eventually, some of us would have families of our own and I couldn’t wait to see how she’d be with grandkids.
With every night I spent with my brothers, the more I dreaded the end of the weekend. I looked forward to being back with Blake, but I was going to miss these guys. The first night was slightly annoying when they were all quizzing me to make sure I wasn’t getting myself into trouble, and the next night they each made a point to tell me how proud they were of me for how I seemed to have grown in the months I’d been gone. Last night was the first time I’d hung out with them and didn’t feel like the annoying baby brother they were forced to let tag along. It wasn’t going to be easy letting that go.
I disappeared into my bedroom and gathered my clothes. While Mom ironed, I joined Dad and Billy out on the three-season porch. My mouth watered when I noticed four pies lined along the bench to cool. Everyone knew that was the real reason Mom insisted on screening in the back porch. She needed a safe space to cool her baked goods on days like today. And Mom’s pies were legendary. If I thought I could get away with it, I would have stashed one away for later tonight when I wanted something sweet.
“Don’t even think about it,” Dad warned. “You know she’s got one in the fridge in the garage for tomorrow. Don’t get greedy.”
“Can you blame me? It’s been months since I’ve had decent pie.” The closest thing I’d had was at a little hole in the wall diner with Blake, but even that couldn’t compare to Mom’s.
“That’s on you for thinking you needed to move clear across the country,” Dad quipped. He might not have put up a fuss when I left, but I knew that was only because he believed all of us needed to carve our own path in life. He’d grown up in Harmony Grove, as had my grandparents and their parents. I was the first to move away and that didn’t sit well with him.
“Dad, cut Danny some slack,” Billy grumbled. “If getting out of Harmony Grove is what he needed to do to get his life in order, it’s pretty obvious he’s doing well for himself.”
Billy's eyes widened as he glared at our dad. There was obviously something he was trying not to say. Dad stared back at Billy, subtly shaking his head. After a short but tense silent standoff between them, Dad turned back to me.
“You’re right.” Dad patted my arm. “Sorry, son. I don’t want you feeling bad for taking charge of your own life. I know things weren’t easy for you here, and I shouldn’t try to make you feel guilty.”
I pulled out the chair across from Billy and sat down to drink my coffee and eat my breakfast. “I get it, Dad. You like having your family in one place. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay here, but it was the right move for me.”
At the time, at least. I hadn’t admitted to anyone that I was torn about flying home. I didn’t regret moving because there was no way I’d have met Blake if we lived so far apart, but now I felt like I was at a crossroads where I needed to choose between the family I was born into and the family I was creating in Annandale.
“And I’m proud of you for that,” Dad praised me. “Now, tell me what you’ve been up to. I heard your brothers talking about a boyfriend?”
This wasthe first time either of my parents brought up the fact I was dating again. They’d had reservations when Michael and I got together, and I really didn't want to hear their complaints that I was rushing into another relationship to fill the void created when he left.
