It was all he could think about the whole ride to the house, and then as they were all gathered, laughing and talking and having lunch together.
Scout stuck to Grady like glue, and Grady clearly adored it. They had so much time to make up for, but then, how did they ever get back the years they’d lost?
Cat sat next to him on the couch. “You’re being awfully quiet.”
“Just watching him.” He could never get enough of watching Grady.
“Scout’s never connected with someone as quickly as he has with Grady. My brother has that kind of personality, though. Everyone loves him. He makes it impossible not to.”
Deacon didn’t take his gaze off Grady as Scout said something to him and Grady dropped his head back and laughed. “Yeah, he does.”
She picked at her peeling purple nail polish. “You probably think we’re horrible people for what we did. I don’t know that I’ll ever forgive myself.”
Deacon didn’t have a doubt in his mind she was sincere. “I can’t say I agree with what you did, but what matters most is how you behave moving forward.”
“I hope you’re right.” They watched as Grady and Scout went over to speak with Chester, who was temporarily in a wheelchair from his accident. “I’m sure gonna miss him. I’m already used to having him around again. Maybe next time we can come out to see you guys. I need to taste Grady’s Sticky Bourbon. I can’t believe my baby brother has an ice cream flavor named after him.”
A wave of embarrassment washed over him, and he shook his head with a smile. Cat nudged him, and the two of them laughed together, Grady’s head snapping up to find them then. He gave them a face-splitting smile.
“I think he likes that we’re talking,” Cat said.
“I think so too.”
Grady called Deacon over, and the two of them hung out with the kids for a bit before they all sat down and played charades and board games together. There was so much laughter, so much damn happiness; Grady nearly glowed with it.
How was he going to leave this? Did he even want to?
After games it was dinnertime. Grady’s mom had chili going in the Crock-Pot all day, and they all sat down together to eat.
When they’d finished the dessert, Grady stood and stretched. “We should probably head back to the hotel. We’re heading out early in the morning. Deke’s family has been helping out at Sundae’s Best, but they all have work of their own to do, and he needs to make ice cream.”
“How come you didn’t bring us ice cream?” one of the twins asked. Deacon hadn’t learned to tell them apart yet.
“Jed!” Betsy said.
“It’s okay. I’ll bring some next time, I promise.”
The mood in the house turned somber then, heavy with the fact that their family reunion would be over so soon.
“I wish you didn’t have to go,” Scout said. “I just got to meet you. What if something happens like before?”
The thickness in the air grew as Grady went over to him. “Hey, no. That’s not what’s going to happen. Everything is fine now, and I’m going to visit so often, you’ll probably get sick of me. Ask Deacon. I’m super annoying once you get to know me.”
Scout snickered.
“We’re family,” Chester added. “We forgot our way for a long time, but it’s not going to happen again. Family love each other, they support and accept each other no matter what. That’s not going to change around here again.”
The way Grady’s face softened tugged at Deacon’s heart. He’d needed to hear that. He needed his family.
“Do you promise?” Scout asked.
“I do,” Grady replied. “Nothing will keep me away from you guys now. And when I’m not visiting here, maybe you can come to Everett sometime. If your mama and daddy don’t mind, you can even stay with us in the summer. I know two boys about your age, Sean and Wyatt, whom I think you’d get along well with. They play football like you.”
Deacon had learned that Scout loved gymnastics, and from what Grady told him, said he liked pretty things and sometimes wanted to wear his mom’s clothes, though no one knew that part. But he also played football and climbed trees and fixed everything in sight. He wasn’t any one thing, just like everyone else.
Scout nodded. “Yeah, that’ll be super cool. Still…you and Deacon should just move here.”
Deacon’s gut twisted, his heart heavy.
“While that would be cool, Briar County is our home. Deacon has a house and a business there. His family is there.”
“And your family is here.” Scout crossed his arms.
“Scout…no. That’s enough,” Cat said. “You’ll get to see your uncle real soon, okay? I promise. Maybe even just me and you can take a trip to his and Deacon’s house in a month or so. Then you can meet Moose too.”