Forever (Always & Forever 2)

“Wake up and realize I’m with you?” he asked.

“Yeah. And I’m waiting for that day. I’m trying to keep perspective, but you make it so fucking hard.” Landon tried to turn back toward the ocean, and the struggle was real to keep him facing Robert so he could look into his eyes.

“You want to stay with me?” he asked.

“Yes, of course. You know that.” He lost the battle and got Landon’s back again.

“I hoped. You haven’t actually said that’s what you wanted.” Robert had long past decided he and Landon were worth fighting for, and that was exactly what he intended to do. There was no way he was going to let Landon’s reservations slice away at their forever. “Stop putting all this between us. I’m crazy about you. Are you crazy about me?”

“You know I am, and I can’t accept the gift… And you know I can’t,” Landon said decisively over his shoulder. Robert didn’t want to spend their precious alone time together rehashing it all again.

“I want to show you something. Follow me.” Robert took his hand, glad when Landon relented and followed without another argument. He led him to the grouping of stately trees. Trees so tall they towered over the property like guardians. Dense foliage acted as a barrier, blocking them from view of any boats that might pass along this part of the coastline. The only part of the property kept in its natural state.

“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.”