And it’s going to work.
I step up beside him and press a kiss to the side of his head. “Breathe,” I say.
He pulls a deep breath in and meets my eyes as he releases it.
I hold his gaze and smile softly as I feel some tension leave his body.
“Come on.” I nudge him towards the line.
“I think you’re going to be good, boys,” Rob says, glancing between us with a smile as Silas steps up to the belt.
They all look good… But that’s the thing about hollow heart.
They look completely fine on the outside, and it’s only when they’re cut open that we see the damage inside. The hollow cavity in the middle, caused by stress and uneven growth, that hides until someone goes looking for it.
Silas reaches out and grabs a potato off the moving belt, holding it in his hand as he looks down at it. Then he reaches into his pocket, pulls out his knife, and flicks the blade open.
My pulse quickens as I watch him position the blade over the potato and pause. His eyes lift to meet mine as he pulls another deep breath in, then slices it down the middle.
I step forward with my heart in my throat, peering at the two halves in his hand.
And it’s perfect.
It’s fucking perfect.
No discolouration, no hollow cavity… perfect.
Silas drops it and quickly grabs another one, slicing it open. And it’s the same thing.
No hollow heart.
He turns to me as wide smiles spread across both of our faces, and he drops everything to the ground before he pulls me into him. I wrap my arms around him, and we fall into a fit of laughter as we jump and hug like fucking idiots.
“So, good news?” Scott’s voice cuts through our laughter, and Silas pulls back from me just enough to look at him and his Papa as they round the side of the shed to join us.
“Good news,” he says with a big smile.
“Alright!” Peter yells from the other side of the belt, holding his arms up in the air as Rob lets out a whoop as well.
“Never a doubt,” Papa says with a smile as he shoves his hands in his pockets and gives Silas a wink, and his dad gives us both an approving nod that’s full of pride.
I reach up and grip Silas’s chin, turning his head towards me again. His beautiful hazel eyes are alive andsparkling.
“You fucking did it,” I say.
He pulls me closer, tightening his grip on me. “Wefucking did it.”
Then he leans in and kisses me, holding onto me like he’s never going to let go.
I completely melt into him, gripping the back of his neck to hold him as close as I possibly can, and my love for him completely takes over.
We really fucking did.
Winston splashes through the water to bring his ball back to me, and I eye him, taking a step back. But he just drops the ball at my feet, with no spray of sandy water.
“Well… that’s a nice change,” I mutter, bending down to quickly grab the ball and throw it before he changes his mind.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, so I reach in and pull it out, already rolling my eyes because I know what it is.
