She slid in and positioned herself in the center of the bench seat, buckling herself in as I joined them.
Through the front windshield, I offered my family another wave as Rhett began to back down the driveway.
“I hate this,” Maddison mumbled as she crossed her arms over her chest. Rhett and I exchanged a look before I placed my arm behind her and hugged her to my chest. She didn’t fight but came with ease, resting her head on my shoulder. “You’ve been here for five days, and I guess I just forgot to remind myself over and over that it wouldn’t last.”
I took in a slow breath, fighting the urge to tell her I’d be coming home to stay before she knew it. I wanted to save that surprise until the time came closer. The news would only make the time drag on slower in my opinion, at least for them. For me, it was already fucking crawling along in slow motion.
“I’ll be okay,” I assured her, and she turned her face into my shoulder, tears blending with those of my mother’s.
The rest of the drive to the airport was done in silence with only the radio playing so low, it was almost nonexistent.
Our goodbyes were quick since I’d given my mother more time than I’d allowed. Rhett and I didn’t get all brotherly and affectionate; it wasn’t our style. Instead, we shared a quick, over the shoulder pat and bro hug salute before I turned to face Maddison. I could sense the hesitation in her, like she thought if she remained distant, she’d be able to hold it together, only I wouldn’t allow it.
I wrapped my arms around her tightly, lifted her in the air, and just held her there, with her arms dangling freely. She laughed. “You big brute. Put me down.” Trying to act as though she truly wanted me to, she wiggled in my hold, giving my back a few gentle taps. When she knew I wasn’t going to give in, she hugged me in return. “I love you, ya big knucklehead.”
Her words made my chest tighten. “I love you too,” I said before kissing her temple. “You’d better email me and send some of those goodie boxes like you did before.”
“Oreos?”
“And Reese’s,” I added, and she laughed.
“You and your peanut butter.”
We remained like that for a few short minutes, then I lowered her to the ground. Seeing her smile now was much better than the tears of earlier.
“I’ll miss you guys.” I’d miss everyone, just as I had every single day since I joined the army. And with that, I turned around and left them staring after me. I couldn’t look back. It was too hard. I knew if I did, I would break.
Chapter One
Mike
Present Day
“A party,” I said as we pulled up the driveway of my grandparents’ big farmhouse, and I smiled. “Was this really necessary?”
“You know this family. Everything gets a party.” My father chuckled as we drove up the lane.
“Yeah,” Garrett’s voice chimed in from behind me, and I looked back over my shoulder. Two years since the last time I saw him, and he’d changed so damn much. He looked more and more like our father every day with his dark hair and eyes the color of the ocean. He was still training, but his arms were beginning to fill out a little more.
“Gran threw a party when Grace finally got her backflip in gymnastics class, one when Chloe got her braces off, and another one when Rhett hit a homer during his first college ball game.” He rolled his eyes, making me smile.
“Do you feel left out, bud? You haven’t gotten your party yet?” I loved to tease Garrett. He got worked up so easily. I looked over at our father to see him smiling, though he was attempting to hide it from my brother. The age difference between us was a big one, and I really should have cut the kid a break, but I couldn’t seem to control the urge.
“I get a birthday every year.”
“I’m talking about to celebrate an actual achievement.”
“Don’t need a celebratory party,” he grumbled as he lounged back in the seat. Attitude rolled off him in waves, and I’d heard stories of how our mother had laid into him a time or two. I was so sad I had missed those times, but now that I was back, I’d be sure to catch a few.
I looked out the passenger window as we got even closer and found all the guys standing near the barn, I assumed finishing a round of horseshoes and doing their best to avoid the women. Whenever a feast was being prepared, it had always been best to just stay out of their way. They took that shit seriously. Always had. One thing out of place, one dish unprepared, and it was almost like the world was ending.
I glanced toward the big tree that Rhett and I had climbed more than a dozen times over the years and couldn’t control the grin that took over when I saw Maddison sitting beneath it. She was leaning up against the big trunk of the tree, and before her sat Chloe and Grace.
Usually, Rhett’s girlfriend would be in the mix, but since Harley moved away and left my boy heartbroken, it was almost like something was missing there. I was sure he felt that way every day, and I felt even worse for not being here to help him through that loss. But I was here now.
Before I was even out of the truck, the women were moving our way. My mother practically threw herself at me as I
