Yeah, this was where I wanted to be.
“Michael!”
Pop waited impatiently on the steps, but didn’t reprimand me for taking a few moments to breathe it all in. This had really been my first chance sincereturning home. With Liam at the hospital recovering, things had been strained.
Walking into the house, I didn’t get any warm fuzzy feelings. But then, I hadn’t with any of the houses I’d been to. I wasn’t sure why Pop wanted me to pick out the house. I had absolutely zero feelings toward houses. It was a place to hang my hat. Nothing more.
But at least in here, I could imagine Blake curled up in a chair by the fire. Or her sitting on the couch, holding our kid in her arms. I could picture the house all decorated for Christmas, with wreaths hanging on the log walls and lights strewn from the rafters bracing the high ceilings.
I wasn’t much of a cook, but as I strode into the kitchen, I could imagine trying to learn my way around. It was the first real home I would have had in years. Every place I had stayed had been just a place to lay my head. I had no real ties to anyone or anywhere since I was last home.
“So?”
I nodded, taking another look around. “Yeah, I think this is the one.”
“You might have to add on a few rooms if you decide to have a couple more kids,” he laughed. “But it’s a good start.”
“Are you sure about this, Pop? I know you need the houses for rentals.”
“You have to live somewhere, and that kid is gonna grow up on this ranch with his family. Not in some house in the middle of town,” he snarled.
While I agreed with him, I didn’t care for the way he was demanding where we would live. There would definitely have to be some boundaries set between us. But that was a battle for another day. The fact was, Blake and I needed a place to call our own, and the sooner the better.
“We’ll pay for the house.”
Scowling, my old man looked like he was actually going to yell at me. “I didn’t offer it to you to buy.”
“I know that, but I don’t take handouts, and neither does Blake. We’ll pay for the house. Besides, we’re taking a rental from you. You’ll need the money to build another.”
“Don’t need your fucking money, Michael. Can’t you just come home and let us help you?” he asked, heading for the door.
“I could say the same thing.”
He spun around, getting in my face. “Is that right? You think I need you to come home and fix everything for me?”
“That’s not what I was saying.”
“Because I let the ranch down, right?”
“Pop, you didn’t let the ranch down.”
He scoffed, walking out the door. “All my sons know better than me. They all think I let the whole place fall apart.”
Flying down the steps, I grabbed his arm. “Nobody said that or even thinks it! Times are hard for ranches. You did the best you could, but we’re pivoting and moving on. Maybe it wasn’t your plan, but it’s gonna save the land!”
“And what good is the fucking land if I lost everything else?”
“You didn’t!” I shouted. “You still have your family. You still own the property. That’s worth more than cattle.”
“Right,” he laughed humorlessly. “I should just be happy with what I have and move on.” He shook his head at me. “Move on to what?”
I didn’t have an answer for him, but I knew well enough that wallowing would get him nowhere.
“Pop, believe it or not, I get it. I’ve been where you are.”
“You’ve never been?—”
“I was dishonorably discharged from the military!” I snapped. “I’d lost everything. I couldn’t get a decent job. Hell, everyone who knew me thought I was a rapist!”
