Patricia squeezed me in another hug. She wrapped her arm around mine and led me towards the front door that always represented safety, warmth, and love during an upbringing that was none of those things.
“Dani’s fine. She runs her own business now, and she works at the Tavern to help us with the bills. You’ve missed so much. Let’s head to the back porch, and Daniel can catch you up on everything. I’ll get you boys some iced green tea.”
She smiled up at me, love for her husband shining in her eyes.
“I swear, that man knows everything in town though he doesn’t get around much these days. He got hurt at the ranch a while back—that’s when Dani moved home since I couldn’t manage his rehab alone—and now he spends his retirement texting half the town all day.”
Her fond head shake wiped away most of my worry. My shoulders still tensed at the knowledge that my hero, the man who showed me a different way to be strong that didn’t involve broken bones and drunken rages, got hurt.
“What happened?” I asked in a soft voice as I cataloged the changes to the kitchen and living room where I spent my formative years.
Her voice was matter-of-fact. “Severe TBI, eleven broken bones, three bruised ribs, and a spinal cord injury after an accident at the ranch. He was out for a day. They said it was his fault and didn’t want to pay out, but Dani hired a lawyer, and they paid the medical bills. We’re applying for disability, but it takes time.”
She patted my arm.
“Don’t you fret. Dani takes good care of us. She cooks and helps around the house, takes Daniel to physical therapy a couple times a week, makes him do his exercises. She’ll be so happy you’re back.”
Patricia winked as we neared the screened-in back porch. “Oh, Daniel. I have a surprise for you,” she sang out.
“Did you make those sweet potato brownies I like so much?” he asked.
“Even better.”
She led me through the doorway and presented me with a flourish.
I didn’t know what to expect as I steeled myself to meet a frail, broken man. Instead, an older and grayer version of the man I admired most climbed painfully to his feet, but he was fit and proud once he stood.
Intelligence and love shone in his damp eyes, and my nose burned.
“Son, are you finally come home to us?”
Daniel’s hug was every bit as warm and loving as his wife’s. There were no dry eyes when we broke away, my throat clogged with emotion.
I hoped for a friendly welcome when I came home, but I didn’t expect to be fully ensconced in the fold within an hour of pulling into my driveway.
Mrs. Williams—Patricia—sniffed and patted her hair.
“He’ll talk your ear off, so I’d better get those drinks,” she said with an affectionate cheek kiss for each of us. “I’ll heat up the lasagna since you probably don’t have any food in your house yet.”
Before I could object out of politeness, she bustled out of the room.
“It’s good to see you,” Daniel said once he reclaimed his chair. “Are you back for good?”
“Yes, sir. It had always been my intention to return once I got out of the army.”
“Heard about your engagement. Sorry for that.”
“Thanks.”
Daniel nodded to let me know he understood the subject was closed until I was ready to talk. I didn’t know if that would happen, but if I opened up to anyone about Blair, it’d be him. He didn’t just teach me how to be a better man than my father, he taught me how to be a good man. A man who listened, who cared.
Too bad I’d been in love with his only child for twenty-five years. Mixed with all my joy and relief at seeing Patricia and Daniel was the knowledge that I’d have to see Dani again. In all my dreams of returning to Sierra RoseRidge and forging new memories, I never thought we’d live here again at the same time.
“You came back at the right time,” he said. I appreciated the change of topic. “Since you’ve been gone, this town has become a mini-California.”
At my curious expression, he warmed to his topic.
“We’re an arts mecca now. Arts festivals and community fairs all the damned time. Book clubs and film nights. In a couple months, the Farmers Market will start back up, too. Brings a lot of noisy out-of-towners, but I guess their money spends as well as anybody’s.”
