The Single Dad (Red's Tavern 4)

“Thank you,” I said, looking out. I’d forgotten that Mom hadn’t seen the backyard since Luke and I had started really transforming it. There were new flowers, lamps, shrubs, and the bird feeder, of course. Luke had also helped me re-stain the whole deck before summer ended.

“It’s so much better, grandma,” Dayna said, coming up to Mom’s side and hugging her. “The backyard is like, my favorite place in the world now.”

My heart soared. I looked at Luke, and he reached out to give me a quick squeeze on the shoulder.

“It looks amazing. You’re sure we can eat outside at this time of year, dear?” Mom asked me.

“The heaters work great.”

“There was a hummingbird nest outside in summer!” Dayna said, clearly proud.

“Jeez, Luke, I want to have you drive out and help me fix up my yard, too,” Mom said, winking at him.

“Always happy to,” he said. “Outside is my favorite place to be.”

Dinner was amazing. By the time we finished the sun had gone down and we were all full, happy, and our faces hurt from laughing. It was the first time I’d spent with a big group of family since my divorce was finalized and my life had changed forever.

It came time for Perry, Rock, Liz, and Mom to all head home, and after a long day, all three of the kids gladly retreated to their rooms to go to sleep. Luke and I had a mountain of cleaning to do, and we tackled it slowly, chipping away at it until eleven at night.

We went back outside, just for a few minutes, to enjoy the chilly night air and look up at the stars.

“I agree with your mom, by the way,” Luke said. “This backyard is starting to look amazing.”

“I know,” I said. “I never thought it would be anything but boring, but here we are.”

“Maybe, one day, we’ll be old and grey, looking out at gardens even better than the Golden Goose ones, here.”

My eyes snapped to his. “This backyard?” I asked.

He nodded. “Of course.”

“But you could never leave behind your own beautiful oasis,” I said.

He shrugged one shoulder. “There was a time I thought that,” he said. “My yard is definitely my happy place. But I’m starting to think I could learn to like this one even better.”

My heart squeezed inside my chest so much my sternum ached. “You really mean that?”

“My yard is great, but I decided on everything back there,” he said. “This one has ideas from both of us. All of us, actually. Sometimes I think the kids’ ideas are even better than anything I come up with.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “They all do have their own opinions.”

“I never would have thought to put that potted azalea at the side of that oak tree, but Dayna insisted,” he said. “And it looks great.”

I puffed out a laugh, noticing my breath in the chilly air.

“I would love to share this yard with you someday,” I said quietly, my heart suddenly pounding inside me. “This whole place, Luke.”

“It’s the only house I’ve felt comfortable in for long periods in years,” he said.

He reached out and grabbed my hand. His was somehow still warm, like a big comforting mitt, even though my fingers had gotten cold.

“I love you, Cam,” Luke said. “And I’m so happy you’ve let me into your world.”

I swallowed hard. “I love you, too,” I told him. “I want you in my world all of the time.”

He dipped to press a kiss to my lips. “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.”

* * *

The End