AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I shook my head. “Wrong. Dad had a heart attack. I came home for that.”
“Dad is just fine. I saw the way you looked at Clint, the way you took her hand. My bet is that you’ll stay because of her.”
“Really?” I was more than a little irritated that my police chief brother acted like he knew me so well.
Damon snorted. “Oh yeah. I’m not saying it’s the wrong move, but you should understand that you want to stay for her. Though you really should clear up things with the old man. He’s obviously angry with you for some reason. Of course, he is stubborn, and it came out yesterday, didn’t it?” Not waitingfor my response, Damon opened the truck door and climbed in. “Thanks for watching the boys last night.”
“I’m sorry about the break. I really am.”
“Not your fault. They never sleep.” He shut the door and pulled out of the hospital parking lot.
I watched him go and wondered about the things he’d said. What if I stayed? Could I stay?
I chewed on that as I drove the Jeep back to my parents’ house. It took about fifteen minutes before I arrived at the long driveway. I put in the security code, which they hadn’t changed from 1234, and the gate opened.
Once I’d parked, I stepped up onto the wraparound porch. The front door was open. Concerned, I hurried inside. Nobody was around except my father, who was sitting in his recliner in the living room.
“How are the boys?” he asked, peering at me from over the top of his newspaper.
I moved into the room and sat. The far side of the living room boasted floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a view of the large expanse of mountains and trees. The lake glimmered in the distance. “Trent broke his arm.”
My father winced. “Shoot.”
“I thought I heard you,” my mother said, bustling in to join us. “What happened?”
I launched into an explanation, filling them in on how we’d been sleeping and I’d woken up to the boys yelling.
My mother fretted as she listened.
My dad clicked his tongue. “Those boys don’t have an off button.”
“I’m going to make some dinner to bring over to their house. I want to check on them.” Mom moved toward the kitchen.
My dad turned to me. “Let’s go out on the porch and sit, shall we?”
“Okay.” Something was off. I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad.
We stepped out onto the porch and settled on the chairs. “It’s beautiful out here,” I said as I gazed over the tree line to the mountains. The house was on a hill, so the view sloped downward toward the lake.
My dad nodded and crossed one leg over the other. “That’s why I bought it. Because I fell in love with your mother, and we fell in love with the view.”
We were quiet for roughly ten minutes, and then my mother came out and said, “I’m heading into town. Noah, make sure your dad gets some dinner off the stove. And get some for yourself, too.”
I nodded. “You bet.”
She paused. “You’re still good to take your father to his doctor’s appointment tomorrow? I’m volunteering at the church for the food drive, but I can do it if you can’t.”
My father frowned. “He’s doing it, Nora. Plan on the food drive. You spend too much time fussing over me.”
She sighed and ducked in to kiss his cheek. “I like to fuss over you.”
He held her hand for a moment and nodded. “Thank you.”
I watched them, smiling. It made me happy to see my parents being affectionate like they’d always been.
My mother moved to me and kissed my cheek too. “I’m glad you’re here.” She hesitated, her hand resting on my shoulder. “You could stay here at the house, you know.”
“I know. Thank you.” I wasn’t going to stay here tonight. Maybe it was rude, but I needed space. It felt weird to stay at home.
