“He didn’t find it.” At least Curtis assumed he hadn’t. The boy was different than Curtis remembered. Not quite as cocky. A little more reserved.
“I think he did,” Lorrie corrected. “But he found it before he ever left.”
Curtis looked at his wife. “Little Stevie Shepherd?”
Lorrie laughed. “She’s not so little anymore.”
“She’s pocket-sized,” Curtis teased.
She flapped her hand at him. “Be nice.”
He slid his hand up her smooth calf. “I’m always nice, darlin’.”
Her eyes heated just as he knew they would.
“Deb told me he spent the night over there last night.”
“Where?” he asked, not sure what they were talking about.
“Did you forget already?”
He shook his head, continuing to caress her leg. “Nope. Just found somethin’ more interestin’ to focus on.”
She giggled. “Be serious.”
“Iamserious. I’m always serious when it comes to touchin’ you.”
Her laughter filled the room and warmed his heart. “We’re talkin’ about Stone and Stevie.”
“No,you’retalkin’ about Stone and Stevie. I’m…” He let the sentence trail as he massaged her foot.
“You think he’ll get the proposal done?”
That wasn’t the first time she’d asked him that. Ever since their conversation with Stone, Lorrie had questioned whether Curtis thought the boy was serious.
“Yeah. I think it’s what he needs.”
“Stability?”
“Home,” Curtis corrected. “The boy needs a place to call home.”
And that was the real reason Curtis had brought it up in the first place. As soon as he heard Stone was back, he knew it was for good. A rambling man continued to ramble. Stone wasn’t a rambling man, although he’d pretended to be for far too long.
Curtis had paid attention over the years. He knew Stone was looking for a place to settle, but for whatever reason, the boy hadn’t thought that place was here. Now that he was back, Curtis got the feeling nothing could pull him away.
“It’ll be good for him,” he told his wife. “I think it’ll take him a bit to figure out how he fits with the land, but he’ll do right by it. And it’ll give him the purpose he’s been seekin’ all this time. We’ve just gotta be patient with him.” He met Lorrie’s gaze. “That goes for Deb, too. Tell her to give him a chance. He’ll make the right decision this time.”
“Well, the boy ain’t gettin’ any younger, Curtis.”
He grinned. No, he wasn’t.
None of them were.
Twenty-Five
Sunday, February 4, 2024
Stone woke up early on Sunday, feelinginspired for the first time in a long time.
