When Sean’s eyes got watery, Holden realized he’d hit the nail on the head. Christ, it was uncanny how much like him this kid was. Neither of them wanted to be like their dads. He just hoped Sean wasn’t afraid of accepting love the way Holden always had been. The way he still was.
Holden said, “I don’t think it’d be a good idea for you to move to Atlanta, though.” When Sean stiffened, Holden added, “Because I’m gonna find a way to be here.”
Sean’s eyes widened. He smiled in a way that looked almost too big for his face. “Really?”
Holden had already been thinking about it, had maybe already decided before he even knew he had—taking the job earlier in the week, talking plans about Roe’s property as if he had some kind of claim on it, going to Mama Adaline’s just to see Evie because he liked her so damn much.
He liked it here. He fit…maybe in a way he’d never fit anywhere in his life.
“Yeah, I am,” he told Sean, “but you’re the only person who knows for now. I can’t promise it’ll be smooth sailing. I need to sell my place and settle things at my job. I might have to go back for a few months. They gave me this time off, and I don’t want to leave them high and dry, but—”
“You’ll come back, though?” Sean asked. “You promise?”
“Yeah, kid. I promise.” Sean threw his arms around Holden’s waist in a hug just as Holden looked toward the barn. He saw Roe there, the sunlight shining down on him like it was as addicted to him as Holden had become. He wanted that man. He wanted this place. Wanted the slice of happiness he’d found in Harmony. “Don’t say anything yet, though. I want to tell your mama myself, and I gotta figure out some things first.”
Sean nodded against his chest. “I love you, Uncle Holden.”
“I love you too, kid.” Holden kissed the top of his head, knowing he was exactly where he was meant to be. He just hoped everything else went as smoothly, hoped that he deserved something real with Roe, who looked over at them, and even from the distance, Holden knew he was smiling.
The day went by quickly, and before he knew it, the time had come to go to Covington Acres for dinner.
They didn’t have enough room for them all in one car, so Holden, Marilee, and Sean were driving to the farm with Roe rather than him picking up Wyatt and Lindsey. Wyatt was still with his mom, but would be coming home with them after dinner.
Holden hated that he felt nervous. He knew Roe’s family, of course, working at the farm, but this was a family thing, and he and Roe were involved. Vince’s family hadn’t lived locally. Even if they had, Holden wasn’t sure they would have done this.
But then, everything was different with Roe, so he didn’t know why it surprised him anymore.
“Stop it,” Roe said as he drove. Holden had tried to offer the passenger seat to Marilee, but she’d insisted on sitting in the cab with Sean.
“Stop what?”
“Fretting. I can see it from here.”
“Why are you stressing out, Uncle Holden?” Sean asked.
“Yeah, Holdy. What’s up with that?” Marilee added.
“Is this gang-up-on-Holden afternoon? I’m not talking to any of you,” Holden teased, making them chuckle. “I don’t fret.”
“You’re maybe the biggest fretter I know,” Roe joked back.
Marilee flicked his ear from behind. “Tell that to teen me…and, well, adult me. I’m with Roe on this.”
“Ouch, brat.” He looked over his shoulder. “Sean…man, come on. You’re supposed to have my back.”
“But I’m also not supposed to lie, right?” Sean said, making everyone erupt in another round of laughter.
That was what they were doing when they pulled up at the farm. Lindsey and Wyatt were already there, waiting for them by Lindsey’s car. They’d gotten back from Wilmington late the night before, so this was the first time Roe was seeing them since they left.
“I could see you guys laughing from out here,” Lindsey said with a smile.
“It’s this knucklehead.” Roe pointed to Holden, then turned to Wyatt. “Did you grow a few inches in a week? I swear you look like it. Come here.” He wrapped him up in a hug, and Holden couldn’t help watching them. How much Roe cared about his son was one of Holden’s favorite things about him.
“I missed you,” Roe told him. “Don’t like being away from you that long.”
“Missed you too, Dad,” Wyatt replied. His gaze darted to Holden, then away again.
“We gotta hang out so you can tell me everything you did. Don’t leave anything out.” He ruffled Wyatt’s hair. Holden knew everything Roe said to Wyatt was true, but that he also wanted to make sure Wyatt never felt left out.