“All the Adamses who have lived here have treated this particular piece of the property as sacred ground. The history goes like this…” He scanned the area until he found the tree he was looking for and went there. “My great-grandfather bought the property while in office. He missed Minnesota, but my great-grandmother mourned her home. Back then, it wasn’t considered such an easy jaunt just to fly home so freely. This was as close as he could get to bringing Minnesota to her. The first night he brought her here, he carved this into the tree. He made her a promise: if she would trust him, he would build her a house on the property and together they would make this their home.”
Robert ran his fingers over a faint heart that had been knifed into the tree many years ago. Initials carved inside. “My grandfather proposed to my Nonnie right under this tree and she accepted.” He stepped to the next tree in the row where a second carving was etched into the bark then moved to a third tree. “The first time my dad brought my daddy here, he lovingly carved their initials. My daddy was like you—hesitant.” Robert felt the rough bark beneath the pad of his finger. “I believe this happened after they were married.” Robert’s heart grew full as he outlined his fathers’ etched heart on the old oak tree like he had done many times in his life. The wounds the memories used to open had dissipated, only their love filling his heart as he stared at the sweet declaration that remained of his parents.
“What’s this?” Landon let go of his hand, moving to a tree diagonally opposite from his fathers’ tree. Robert chuckled, following Landon the few feet, remembering Autumn had met the man of her dreams when she was twenty-two years old. She proclaimed that tree as hers and carved their love there. There were now three hearts on the tree, the biggest being hers and Cam’s.
“Autumn’s love history carved for the ages.”
Landon’s fingers lightly traveled down Autumn’s etched hearts.
“Do you have a tree?” Landon asked.
“No, I’ve never brought anyone here before. You’re my first,” Robert confessed, watching Landon weaving between the trunks.
“Which tree would be yours?” Landon asked, stepping to another large tree, feeling the wood with his hands. Robert had never seen anyone but Paulie do something like that before.
“I don’t know.” Feet from Robert, Landon stopped in front of a larger oak then rounded it before coming back to the spot next to where Robert stood.
“What about this one?” Landon pulled a small knife from the pocket of his shorts. Robert’s heart swelled as he began to understand Landon’s intention. Landon stared at the other hearts before digging into the tree. He worked at defining their initials for a good fifteen minutes before he set to making a heart encasing their initials. Robert came in behind Landon, laying a hand on his back so not to startle him as he worked. He trailed both palms down the flexing muscles and slid them around Landon’s waist. With a loose hold, he watched Landon work until the knife stopped.
“It looks good, right?” Landon asked, staring at the tree.
“It’s perfect,” Robert answered honestly against Landon’s ear. Everything about this moment was perfect.
“It is.” Landon bent the blade into the knife and pocketed it. He brought his hands to Robert’s where they still circled his waist. “I don’t know what’s going to happen between us, but I wanted you to always remember your first.”
“Me too. It’s why I showed you. You’re my first, and if I get my way, you’ll be my last, Landon.” There was silence again, and Robert pressed his lips to Landon’s neck and breathed the man in, letting that fresh masculine scent fill his soul. Landon was his last, the man who owned his heart and would forever. He didn’t let himself overthink as he lifted his lips to Landon’s ear and said what he had wanted to say so many weeks ago, “I love you. I don’t want anyone else’s initials on our tree. Just yours and mine.” He pressed his lips to the warm pulse in Landon’s neck, opening his mouth over the tender flesh. “I want forever with you, Landon.” Robert felt his lover’s heartbeat accelerate against his lips.
Landon stiffened, not in the good way. There was a second of hesitation before Landon relaxed fully back into him. “I love you, too.”
“Say it again.” Robert wanted to hear those quietly muttered words said again and again.
Landon turned his head slightly, their breath mingling as Landon repeated the words. “I love you. I suspect I’ve been in love with you since Germany.”
Robert tightened his embrace, crushing Landon even closer to him. If he’d only known. “When I left Germany, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. You were in every thought I had, every day. I was disappointed when I thought you friend-zoned me. I wanted you. I knew from the minute I saw you crossing the street to me on our first date, right then, I knew I loved you.”
“Let me turn around, Robert,” Landon said, but Robert found he couldn’t let go of the tight hold he had on Landon.
“I don’t think I’m going to like what you’re going to say,” Robert said. He felt Landon maybe overthinking his response and he didn’t want to entertain any negativity, not right now.
“It doesn’t change reality.” Landon pried Robert’s hands apart and turned, encasing Robert’s face between strong palms, keeping him from leaning forward and kissing the protest from Landon’s beautiful lips. “We’re too different, and I can’t see how we’re meant to be. I don’t belong in your world. I’m
