Derek spoke. “Do you like it?”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. “Son, I love it.” When I opened them again, I felt two tears drip from the corners of my eyes. “Thank you.” I set it down and beckoned him to come to me.
He moved into my lap and hugged me.
I held him without looking at Cleo and Tucker, like they weren’t there at all.
Tucker didn’t tease me for the emotion.
And Cleo moved her hand to my shoulder, like she wanted me to know she was there, that the moment meant as much to her as it did to me.
Derek had fallen asleep in my arms, so I carried him to bed upstairs and tucked him in for the night. I had a bedroom for him, but I knew he preferred to sleep with me so that was where I put him.
When I returned downstairs, Cleo and Tucker were ready to go.
“We’ve got a long drive,” Tucker said. “But thanks for letting us crash.”
I nodded. “I’m glad you got to spend time with Derek.”
“He’s such a cool kid. I don’t remember you being that cool.” He smiled, telling me he was joking. He gave me a hug and patted me on the back before he stepped out the door.
Cleo remained behind, giving me that soft look that she rarely wore around other people. It was vulnerable, delicate, as if she let all her defenses down around me. She didn’t have to be the confident, authoritative leader who took care of other people. She could just be herself. “I’m glad you’ve had a great birthday, Deacon.”
Because of her.
“I’ll see you on Monday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
I never hugged people, even the women I slept with. It was a weird display of affection. It was an assault on personal space, especially when a handshake was more than enough. It was reserved for family because that was appropriate. But I hugged her…because the impulse came over me. I wanted to be close to her, touch her, hold her. I wanted to do it again now. She’d changed my life. She was one of the few people in the world who actually cared about me, who looked out for me while other people tried to use me.
She held my gaze for a while, giving me the chance to say something if I wanted to, but when nothing came, she turned away.
My hand went to her elbow, my fingertips gripping her harder than I meant to. I turned her back toward me before I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her again. It wasn’t as long as it was last time, wasn’t as comfortable because Tucker was standing right there. My arms gave her a quick squeeze before I released her. “Thank you for everything.”
She pulled away, a slight smile on her lips. “Goodnight.”
It was hard for me to let her go, to let her walk out and go home…with my brother. “Goodnight.”
She walked out the front door and came to Tucker’s side.
Together, they walked to the truck they’d rented and got inside. The taillights came up when Tucker pressed his foot against the brake. The engine started, and then they began the slow drive down the path between the trees.
I stood there with the door open, looking into the darkness, the shadows that the trees cast, the night that was so beautiful but haunting at the same time. It was late and I should get to bed too, but I stood there for a long time, listening to the isolation, listening to the final sound of the truck before it was truly gone.
Twenty-Two
Cleo
We listened to the radio for most of the drive. We were both tired, not in the mood to talk.
I kept thinking about the similarities between father and son, the way they clicked so well together even after months apart. Their features were the same, their personalities were the same, and their hearts were the same.
I’d fallen in love with that little boy.
“He’s a cute kid, huh?” Tucker asked.
“Yeah…he’s adorable.”
“I miss him. I hope Deacon and Valerie can work something out.”
“Work something out?” I asked.
“Yeah. She relocates here or something. I honestly can’t see Deacon staying here for the long term if his son is in California. He’ll eventually move back.”
The idea of never seeing him again broke my heart. I’d have to tackle that problem with Valerie.
“You really chipped away at Deacon. I’ve never seen him like that before.”
“Like what?”
“Hug another person…say thank you…cry. I mean, that’s not him.”
“We’re all different…under the right circumstances.” When I’d told Tucker I was going to the cabin to deliver the cake, he wanted to come along, so we made a birthday dinner out of it. Deacon seemed a little off in the beginning, probably because it was sudden, but then he came around.