We move to the living room for dessert—cherry bakewells Mila bought at one of my favourite bakeries in London this morning before her flight—and then Nathan and Liam insist on cleaning the kitchen.While they’re doing that, Rex drags Mila and me out to the treehouse.
After showing Mila every inch of the space, his sweet little face alight with pleasure at heroohsandahhs, Rex grabs a giant blanket and insists the three of us curl up in the beanbag chair.To my surprise, Rex wants to hear more about the times Mila and I visited Dad in Ireland, and he doesn’t bat an eye during the moments when our laughter is mixed with tears.
By nine o’clock, both of them are asleep, each with a head on my shoulder.Part of me wishes I could doze off too.My body is heavy with exhaustion, but my mind won’t shut off.I close my eyes anyway, sensing an impending wave of emotion swelling inside me.Tears slip past my closed eyelids, and I let them come, feeling safe and grounded between two of the people I love most.
When I hear footsteps outside, I assume it’s Liam coming to get Rex.As the sound draws closer, that familiar sixth sense kicks in, and I know it’s Nathan.
The door opens slowly.His large frame fills the doorway, while his presence fills the entire treehouse.A small smile graces his face when he sees the scene before him.
“Want me to just leave you all here for the night?”he asks.
“I’d be tempted to say yes if my hands and feet weren’t already asleep.”
He crosses the room and crouches in front of Rex, his expression so soft and loving, it nearly takes my breath away.His gaze lands briefly on me, then returns when he sees I’ve been crying.Before I can move to swipe my tear-soaked face, he shifts toward me, brushing his thumbs over my cheeks.That tender, open expression lingers on his face, making fresh tears prickle at my eyes.
“You okay?”he asks.
“Today has been a lot, but in the best ways,” I say.“Thank you again for bringing Mila to me.”
“Of course.You and Mae really lit up tonight with her around.It was nice to see.”He offers me the barest hint of a smile before reaching for Rex and scooping him up.Rex lets out a sleepy sigh and burrows into Nathan, burying his face in his neck.
“You going to be okay getting Mila inside?”Nathan asks.
“Yeah, I’ll just—”
“Will you come back and carry me next, Nathan?”Mila asks.The weight of her head leaves my shoulder, and she winks at me before aiming a grin at Nathan.
He chuckles.“Sorry, you’re on your own.I’m getting too old for this shit.”With a groan, he readjusts Rex so he’s got a better grip on him.
Rex’s eyes pop open, and he lifts his head from Nathan’s shoulder.His bleary eyes sweep the space before landing on me.“Auntie Fi?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Will you take me to Smurph’s house in Ireland?”
The three sets of eyes on me feel like a physical weight.Mila’s hand slides into mine, squeezing my fingers.If Rex were fully awake, I’d explain that it’s not up to me, not only because I’m not his parent or guardian, but also because the house isn’t mine.
I give the simplest answer I can at this moment: “I’ll see what I can do, buddy.”
“Okay,” Rex says, his eyes already slipping closed as he drops his head to Nathan’s shoulder once more.I look at Nathan, who gives a nod, as if reassuring me my answer was the right one.
“Good night, ladies,” he says, his eyes on Mila.His gaze slides to mine, and he adds, “I’ll see you later.”To anyone else, the words would sound like a common, off-hand farewell.I hear them as the promise they are, though, and know we’ll be seeing each other again tonight.
As Nathan leaves, Mila gives my hand another squeeze.I expect her to say something, but instead, she wriggles free from the beanbag chair, and pulls me to my feet.We shut off the fairy lights and lamps around the treehouse, and then head inside, hand in hand.
“You mind if I go to bed?”Mila asks, covering her mouth as she gives a jaw-cracking yawn.
“Not at all.Tomorrow will be another busy day with Nathan’s party.”
“I’m so excited I get to be here for it,” she says.“Dinner tonight was magical.We’re used to being surrounded by people, but it’s always strangers.Even when you make friends or form attachments, you know it’s fleeting before you’re off on the next adventure with a new group.Tonight felt like…home.”
Home.It’s been a long time since I’ve thought of Honeywell as home, but it’s not really about the place, is it?It’s the people.My family, both the one I was born into and the one that formed along the way.My dad talked about that often, but I’m truly beginning to understand it on a deeper level.
“I can’t wait to see more of the town too,” Mila continues when I remain silent.“I want to do all the small-town stuff.There’d better be a festival of some sort while I’m here so I can live out my Stars Hollow dreams.”
She continues to chatter away as we make our way upstairs to the spare bedroom she’ll be staying in.I still have no idea why Mila is here or how long she’s staying, but having her here feels right.It feels like home.
* * *
