When their eyes met, he tried to tell Garrick without words how happy he was. Later, everyone would gather at their place, work friends, his family, and Garrick’s. The prospect should be scary, but instead, all it did was fill him with a giddy sort of joy. Their place. Grandma had gently mentioned at a certain point that she wanted her spare room back, and he’d realized that it had been months since he’d spent the night there. So, he’d packed up his things and rather than live out of suitcases, he and Garrick had assembled a second dresser for the bedroom, and Rain had gotten to work on his holiday knitting and decorating projects, and that had been that. Shirley joined them for food several times a week, and Rain helped her whenever she let him, and together, they’d all fallen into a routine that worked for them.
“Tomorrow we can do a longer ride. You’re off, right, Rain?” Kenny asked as he made a slow circle around the paddock, much to the little kid’s delight.
“Yup. I’m working weird hours for the holidays. I volunteered for Christmas Eve since so many people wanted off for that, so I got today and tomorrow off. I wanted Christmas Eve anyway since that’s the big party for our residents in the morning.”
Surprising almost everyone, including himself, Rain had taken a job at a retirement community after the fire season had ended. His main job had started out as driving the community’s shuttle van, but he’d quickly moved into filling in for an activities director out on maternity leave and doing whatever other odd jobs needed doing, like holiday decorating.
“Adams and Ryland better watch out if they want you for a crew next summer.” Kenny laughed as he pulled up even with Rain’s horse.
“Oh, I’m still working out with Garrick to be ready for a fitness test. My friend Zeb is too. The woman I’m filling in for will be back from leave, and there’s a good chance I can work both places over the summer.”
As far as long term, he still wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted, but he was making his peace with not having all the answers yet. He’d come to really enjoy the work with his hand crew, and the thought of being back out there in some firefighting capacity come fire season made his insides dance. Anticipation, as it turned out, was its own adventure—having things to look forward to, things to return to, and things to try anew.
“Ready to head out?” Garrick asked as his sister opened the gate.
“Yep.” Rain had seldom meant his agreement more. Lead or follow, he was in this thing for good now. He was totally ready to head out, see what the future brought them both.
* * *
“Doing okay?” Shirley paused in setting out food to give Garrick an appraising glance.
“A little sore,” he admitted. His hip flexors were still getting used to the special saddle, and the kids had begged for a longer ride than initially intended. But damn, being up there on Honey, hanging out with his dad and the rest of the family, had been more than worth a little discomfort. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed riding until he had the chance to do it again. He hoped his dad knew how grateful he was to him for making that possible.
“Well, try not to overdo.”
“Says the woman who’s been baking all week,” he teased. Garrick and Rain were hosting, but Shirley had been bustling about all week with preparations too. It was funny and more than a little surreal, seeing his once-dream bachelor pad transformed for a gathering of friends and family. He’d held plenty of parties here, but nothing compared to this. Endless strings of white lights twinkled both indoors and outside, the firepit was roaring on the back patio, and the table groaned with the ever-growing buffet as more people arrived.
Garrick’s dad had contributed a fresh-cut tree, which stood in the front window, baby gate around it to keep Cookie from stealing the colorful ornaments Rain had produced—an eclectic mix of miniature stockings he’d knit along with discount store finds and a few additions from Shirley. Even Garrick had been goaded into crocheting little snowflake ornaments, something he’d found surprisingly hypnotic, a nice way to relax while Rain and Shirley worked on their holiday knitting projects.
“All this food looks amazing.” Garrick’s dad snagged a muffin from the basket on the table. Garrick couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen his dad so happy, all the visitors and holiday prep rubbing off on him in a way they hadn’t in years. He’d even made sure that there would be a veggie roast for Rain for Christmas dinner in a few days. Garrick’s sister and dad would cook a big meal and the kids would get Santa presents, and Garrick couldn’t wait to see his dad’s place filled with the sounds and smells of the season.