Chapter 3
Liam
The frost coveringmy windshield gives me insight before I even step outside that it’s going to be a slick drive. As I run to my truck, the cold air is nipping and biting me. I hope the temperature rises soon. Switching on the defroster, and running back inside, I wait for the frozen portion to disappear before beginning my drive over to my brother’s new house. It’s a couple blocks away, but it’s only a high of thirty-four degrees today, which is abnormal for Texas. Mother Nature is giving us a beating. What the hell did we do to piss her off? I can’t remember the last time snow was on the ground here. At least a decade.
Damon and my relationship hasn’t always been the best, especially after his wife passed years ago and he hit rock bottom. There was nothing Aiden and I could do to bring him out of it for the longest time. That is, until he found Tessa and Emily. They have played a huge part in helping him recover and open his heart again. If they didn’t come along, his depressive state would’ve gotten worse. Thank god for them.
Their story is unique—and one day—I want to find my happily ever after. Yet, finding someone who will accept me has been rough. Not being able to have kids is hard for me, let alone, asking someone else to share that fate. Since finding out, I have been hesitant after Larissa.
For a while, I didn’t think I should date, because subjecting someone else into not being able to have kids of their own is awful. Who wants to be that person?
The windshield is now clear of ice, so I run out to the car and get inside before the cold air cuts through me. The roads are slick, and my tires go sideways a couple times, reminding me it’s also time for new ones. We get little ice and snow in Texas, but this year must be the exception. Most of us aren’t used to having to drive in this type of weather, which only makes matters worse. You end up with people going twenty miles per hour or sixty. There’s no in between.
As I pull on his street, I’m flabbergasted. Holy crap! These houses are gigantic and look like they cost a pretty penny. Damon must have gone all out, but that’s just what I expect. He’s always wanted someone to share his life with, even from a young age. Like me, he wants someone he can give everything to, and when Carol passed, he lost faith that he could be happy until he found Tessa.
My eyes land on a two-story house and start muttering to myself how rich those people must be when I see the address on the mailbox. This is his house? Damon is pretty tight with his money, but it’s obvious he didn’t spare any expense when buying this. Maybe he can loan me some money and I can upgrade, too.
The porch is held up by pillars, and the front door is bright red; which only adds a little pop to the grayish color of the house, but the snow on the ground almost makes it sparkle in the little bit of sunlight left.
“Hello? I’m here,” I say, opening the front door and walking inside, instead of waiting for them to answer.
“We’re in the kitchen,” Tessa yells out.
There is a staircase leading up to the second floor on my right, and the living room in front of me. I cross through that, which has to be eight hundred square feet by itself, with a built-in entertainment center. My eyes widen, taking in the size of it. Who needs a living room this big?
“You want a tour?” Damon calls. “Did you get lost?”
Hell, I can get lost in this house. “No, but how big of a house did you need? It’s only the three of you, right?”
The kitchen is the biggest room so far with granite countertops, two islands, and double ovens. We spend most holidays at Damon’s house because Aiden and I can’t cook for nothing. Maybe I should be happier, because that only means more ways for them to cook their delicious food on Thanksgiving and Christmas next year.
“I’m just saying, this house is bigger than I expected,” I say, looking around the kitchen, which has a door leading to the backyard. Outside, there is about an acre, and a playset.
Damon leads me outside. “This is Emily’s favorite area, well, except for her bedroom. Wait until you see those.”
Yes, the shock has still not worn off, but I’m happy for him. If his dream of having kids comes true, this backyard will be perfect for little ones to run around and play in.
We go back inside, and he hands me a beer before questioning me about how last night went. Apparently Aiden has already told him it was a disaster.
“Oh, don’t even get me started. The guys are insane for even making me sign up for that online crap. It’s useless.”
Tessa laughs at me. “I could’ve told you that. You have to be super picky on those. But there are good ones. Don’t give up just because of one shitty date. Hell, I can’t tell you how many horrible dates I’ve been on.”
She’s right. The women are good looking, but it’s not all about looks. Someone can be gorgeous on the outside, and completely crazy inside. The woman I’m looking for is wife material. And yes, I know it’s not possible for me to know on the first date if they are without asking some off the wall questions. The point is whoever I end up with should be good with kids because even though I can’t impregnate someone doesn’t mean later down the line we might not adopt a child. There are plenty of kids who need good parents, and so many poor children struggling to get out of the foster care system.
“Look at how Damon and I met. Was the craziest of situations. You need to stop looking. That’s when she will fall into your lap,” Tessa tells me, patting me on the shoulder. “The best things happen when you least expect them to.”
The problem is, I don’t want to stop looking. If I did, it’s plausible that I’ll be fifty and single. Dear lord, don’t let that happen. “I’ve got a date tonight. Might be my last one for a while if it goes bad. Crossing my fingers that this one goes well.”
Tessa calls Emily down for dinner. The table always looks like it’s a holiday covered in serving dishes filled to the brim with something warm and delicious. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find someone who can cook. That is a major plus. No one wants to rely on me for the cooking, or else someone will end up sick. Hell, I tried to cook Raviolis last week in a pot. I thought I did good but then I tasted them and spit them right out into the garbage. So, me and the stove don’t mix well.
“Uncle Liam,” Emily says, running into the kitchen and engulfing me in a hug. “I’m sitting next to you.”
“It’s been a while, kiddo. Like six whole days!”
The conversation over dinner is about the duplexes, and how many people we’ve been able to help since buying the properties. Most only stay a week which works since there is always another fire popping up to claim someone’s home. It’s the best investment we ever made. We don’t only use them for victims of fires, but anyone who might need a place to stay until they get back on their feet after something awful. Last week, I let a guy move in who I’ve known for a couple years and his house got foreclosed because he lost his job and once he got a new one, he just couldn’t catch up. We are nice people, and helping the community is something we will always want to do, but having a caring heart is important. Everyone needs help at some point in their life.
“Has Aiden been over to see the house yet?” I ask.