She boxed up the treats for him. Roe paid, left a generous tip, and then was on his way again.
It was a twelve-minute drive home from the coffeehouse. When he pulled up, Marilee was just getting out of her older Toyota, a car that had definitely seen better days. She had bags of groceries from Bunny’s. She stopped when she saw him, so Roe hurried out of his truck. “Here, let me help you.”
“No, I got it. Thanks. You already do enough for me.”
He waved off her concern. “Not doin’ a damn thing other than renting out a cabin that’s just sitting here anyway.”
Marilee nodded, but Roe could tell she disagreed. Still, he didn’t insist or take the bags from her. That was the kind of shit Lindsey would kick his ass for. It was okay to help, but if she didn’t want it, she had that right. She wasn’t helpless.
As they made their way toward the cabin, she said, “Listen, I wanted to thank you for the other night. I clearly needed to vent.”
“No worries. We all get that way. It’s been a tough spell for you.” That was putting it mildly.
“Also…I took your advice and called Holden.” They reached the porch, and she set her bags down. Roe waited, hoping it’d gone well. “He, um…he was happy to hear from me. Despite everything, he was glad I called, and he’s doing the most Holden thing possible. He’s dropping everything to come here and help me out.”
Roe liked him already. That’s exactly what he’d do if one of his siblings or Lindsey needed him and he was able. “That’s good. I’m glad to hear it.”
“It’s not permanent. Holden doesn’t… He’s not real good at staying put, and if he ever did, it wouldn’t be in a town like Harmony. He’s more of a city man now, but he took a three-month leave of absence to help me get on my feet, and to spend some time with Sean. Sean’s…well, you don’t want to know all that.”
Sean wasn’t having an easy time of it. Roe didn’t need Marilee to tell him that for him to know it.
“If you want,” she continued, “we can look for another place. Hell, for all I know, Holden might get his own apartment when he gets here, but I wanted to check with you, just in case.”
It wasn’t that easy to find an apartment in Harmony. Holden might have a better time of it in Everett or Chelsea, but Roe figured the whole point of him coming was so he could be as close as possible to his sister and nephew. It would be a tight fit, the three of them, but, “If he wants to stay with you in the cabin, he’s welcome. I don’t have a problem with that. It’ll be good for Sean—good for you both.”
The relief was evident in the deep breath she exhaled. “Thanks, Roe. You’re a good man.”
“Just doing what anyone would.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You’re really not. Sometimes I see you, or think of Holden, and wonder what in the hell had ever made me think Adam was a decent person. But then, if I hadn’t married him, I wouldn’t have Sean, and he’s…my world. I want to do better for him. He deserves better than the hand he’s been dealt.”
Jesus, if Adam were around, Roe would strangle the man himself. “He’s got a mama who loves him and will do anything for him, and sounds like he has an uncle who would do the same. He’ll be okay.” Roe gave her a simple nod. “I was going to put some food on the grill, if you and Sean want some. I’m not sure if Wyatt will be here tonight or not, but if so, he and Sean can hang out.”
They weren’t really friends. From what Roe could tell, Sean kept to himself, but Wyatt would try to engage with him if they were both there. It was what Roe would do and the kind of lessons he tried to instill in his son.
“Thanks, but I wouldn’t want to be a bother. And I’m making spaghetti anyway. It’s Holden’s favorite. He should be here soon. He’s driving up from Atlanta. I was going to ask him to get a room at Harmony Inn if you didn’t feel comfortable with him staying.”
“It’s fine,” Roe confirmed again. They parted ways then, Marilee going into the cabin.
He was halfway toward his house when he remembered he’d left the cinnamon rolls in the car. He grabbed them and called Wyatt as he unlocked the house door. As soon as he did, his cinnamon-colored boxer, Zeus, came running out, jumping all over him, excited Daddy was home. “Down, boy.” Roe chuckled just as Wyatt answered.
“Hey, Dad, what’s up?”
Zeus went running around the yard. Roe had a small fenced-in area in the back, which Zeus could access through a doggie door while Roe was at work, but now that he was home, Zeus would want to go crazy in the wide-open space.