We settle down, and Charlie immediately starts bouncing in his seat, his eyes darting around the room. He’s always been an early riser, and his enthusiasm for breakfast is just as contagious as his energy.
Violet places menus in front of us with a wink. “You’re looking tired, Dakota. Fun night?”
I take a deep breath. “You could say that. It was definitely dramatic.”
“You’re going to have to tell me all about it in a moment.” She shoots me a wink. “Just be warned, Mom is out back helping out. I think she’s going to want to know all the gossip when she sees you.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, fair enough.”
As if on cue, Alice appears. “Charlie! Did you finish the horse drawings we started last night?”
Charlie nods eagerly, a huge grin on his face. “I made them really big and strong. Like the ones at Clint’s ranch!”
I feel a small knot form in my chest at the mention of Clint. It’s been hard to ignore the way he’s been around Charlie lately, the way he’s shown up in ways I didn’t expect, and what happened last night has my mind reeling.
A family. All of us. How will that look?
Violet walks over with a fresh pot of coffee and pours me a cup. “Here you go—extra strong just like you ordered.”
“Thanks, Vi,” I say, taking a sip, feeling the warm liquid course through me. “I needed that.”
Alice sits down across from me. “So Dakota, did you enjoy your night last night?”
“It was wild,” I say with a sigh. “And feelings were shared.”
Alice cocks a brow. “My goodness. Feelings?” She can tell we’re being careful not to say too much with Charlie around. “That’s good news.”
“Does that mean you’re going to stay? For sure?” Violet jumps in. “Like, definitely?”
“I…” I feel heat rise in my cheeks. “I didn’t plan for it. It just… happened. And it’s confusing, but also… not? With them, it feels natural. Like I don’t have to hide parts of myself. So yeah, I really do think I’m going to stay.”
Alice smiles knowingly, folding her hands. “Honey, love doesn’t always look the way people expect it to. What matters is that it’s honest, and that it makes you feel whole.”
Violet nods. “Exactly. And honestly, Dakota? You look lighter today. Happier.”
I glance at Charlie, now coloring on a napkin, his tongue poking out in concentration. My chest tightens. “I just… don’t want to mess this up. For him. Or for me.”
Alice reaches across the table, her hand warm over mine. “You’re not messing anything up. You’re choosing to build something new. That’s brave, Dakota. That’s love.”
Her words settle deep in my chest, heavy and grounding all at once. Maybe that’s what this is. Choosing love, even when it’s messy.
Even when it scares me.
Violet grins. “So,” she says, lilting with amusement, “when’s the next wild night?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Let’s just get through breakfast first.”
But even as I say it, I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. Because for the first time in a long time, the idea of staying doesn’t feel like running from something.
It feels like coming home.
Later, back at the house, the sound of Charlie’s laughter ricochets as he races around the living room, lost in a game of pretend. I can’t help but smile at the way he’s so effortlessly absorbed in his own little world.
I grab my sketchbook from the coffee table and flip through the pages, settling on a blank sheet. Charlie settles in the corner, stacking toy blocks, his concentration so fierce I can practically see the gears turning in his head.
Taking a deep breath, I start to sketch. Birds. Something simple to clear my head. Their fluid shapes are familiar, comforting in their simplicity.
A robin perched on a branch, its feathers soft and curved, its beak a quiet whisper against the air. I move the pencil in slow strokes, trying to focus on the rhythm of it.
