Shelter (Heroes of Big Sky 2)

“Have a good night.”

I hang up and stare out the window.

She still got my birthday wrong, even after our call last month.

She has apparently gone on more than one cruise with the mouse. I didn’t know they’d ever been on one before.

I’m not a part of my mother’s family.

But I belong in Cunningham Falls. I don’t want to go to Moab to compete on a stupid show. I retired for a reason, and it’s silly that I let Roberta talk me into doing it. I’m done with that, with doing what I don’t want to do, just because I feel obligated.

I want to be where I feel good about myself. Where I fit in.

I hop out of the van and undo all of the nighttime stabilizing I just did, then get back in and start the engine. I dial Roberta’s number as I pull back onto the highway, headed toward home.

“Hi, kid, what’s up?”

“Get me off that damn show, Bert. I’m not going.”

She sighs on the other end. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. I’m retired, Bert. I love you, and I’m grateful to you, but it’s not what I want anymore.”

“Okay, okay. I hear you loud and clear. You take care of yourself, Remi, okay?”

“You, too, Bert. Thank you for everything.”

I’m going home.

Chapter 16

~Seth~

It’s still dark, way too early for the kids to be awake, but I can’t sleep, and I’ll bet just about anything that my mom’s already in the kitchen, making breakfast and getting her day going.

I’m not disappointed when I park my truck by the back door and see the kitchen light on.

I knock softly and then step inside. Mom looks over in surprise, then offers me a smile.

“Don’t you ever lock this door?” I ask and lean in to kiss her cheek. “Someone could just walk right in.”

“I already went out this morning to gather eggs and feed the chickens,” she says as Cap hurries over to get some good morning rubs from her. “What are you two up to?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” I reply and sit on a stool at the breakfast bar. “Figured I’d come over and see what you’re about to put in the oven.”

“Scones,” she says. “And your grandma and I made fresh apple jam over the weekend, so you can have some of that if you want.”

“That sounds pretty damn good. It’s handy having a place so close to you. I can bum food.”

“That is convenient,” she agrees and checks on the scones in the oven. “Are you missing Remi?”

“She just left yesterday,” I reply, but then nod when she just stares at me. “Yeah. I miss her. But she’ll be home this weekend.”

“Do you have long-term plans with her, or is this a fun-for-now situation?”

“Mom.”

“What? You think I didn’t ever have a fun-for-now situation?”

“I really don’t want to consider that, to be honest. That’s just disgusting.”

She narrows her eyes, but she’s grinning. Mom likes to tease me.

“I’m gonna marry her.”

The smile slips away, and tears fill her eyes. “You didn’t tell us you were engaged.”

“We’re not. Yet. But I know that she’s it for me. I can’t imagine not being with her, you know? She’s been gone for less than twenty-four hours, and I’m lonesome for her. It’s the weirdest thing.”

“It’s love,” she replies and sniffles, then wipes away a tear. “And I’m just so happy for you. She’s a great girl, and I can see that she is the balance of you. She’s adventurous, and you’ve always had your feet on the ground. I see the way you look at each other. I like to think I still have that with your father.”

“You two are ridiculous,” I reply and get the smile I was aiming for. “I always thought I’d be a bachelor. I enjoy women, but no one has ever been essential to my well-being. Which sounds dramatic, but—”

“No, it’s not dramatic. It’s the truth.”

“She’s important. She’s the best part of everything. So, yeah, I’ll eventually propose, but there’s a lot of time for that.”

“Oh, absolutely. Plenty of time. You’ve only been seeing each other for what? Less than a couple of months?” She pours us each a cup of coffee, then pulls the scones out of the oven.

“Yeah, about that. Gimme the scones and no one gets hurt.”

“They have to cool for a minute.” She sets out butter and the fresh jam and then settles in across from me, her coffee in her hands. “What else is new?”

“I have a question.”

She cocks a brow. “Okay.”

“Is it normal for a girl not to tell her boyfriend when her birthday is?”

Mom blinks, clearly thinking it over. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. What happened?”

“It was her birthday on Friday, and she didn’t tell me. Annie texted me and mentioned it, and then I had to scramble. I didn’t have time to get her anything, but I took her out for dinner. I was just kind of pissed that she didn’t tell me.”