“Read me a story.” Looking hopeful, Deacon hands Noah and me a picture book the moment we step into the foyer after taking Charlie for a walk around the ranch.
Laughing, Noah picks him up. “What do you say, Kate? Should we read him a story?”
“And Charlie, too,” Deacon adds.
“Of course, he wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I say, grinning.
Noah carries him upstairs, and we take him to his bedroom. We settle him on his bed, with me on one side, Noah on the other, and Deacon and Charlie sandwiched in the middle.
Noah begins reading the story out loud. His words come slower than for most adults his age, but not by much. I know he struggled with dyslexia growing up, which made things harder for him than they were for his brothers. But despite that and what his grandfather believed, he still turned out great.
Charlie listens to us, his head on Deacon’s thigh. Deacon’s hand is on Charlie’s fur, right next to Noah’s much larger hand. This is how it normally is when we read to Deacon.
We finish the story and tuck him in bed.
“I’m going to miss you,” I tell him.
Deacon tilts his head to the side. “Where are you going?”
“Charlie and I are going home to California.”
“When are you coming back?”
Smiling softly, I shake my head. “We’re not. Charlie will be helping other kids learn to read.”
Deacon’s lips move into a pout that is enough to break my heart. “Can’t you stay? You can live in Uncle Noah’s room. Or my room.” He scrambles out of bed.
“Hey, buddy, where do you think you’re off to?” Noah asks.
Deacon doesn’t say anything. He just rummages through his toy box. A minute later, he pulls out whatever it is he’s looking for with a triumphant grin on his face.
He climbs onto his bed and hands me the treasure: a small plastic dinosaur. His favorite toy dinosaur. “This is so you don’t get homesick.”
“I won’t get homesick, because I’m going home.”
He adamantly shakes his head. “No,thisis your home.”
“Say good-bye to Kate,” Noah says. “It’s time for you to go to sleep.”
Deacon bounces up onto his knees and throws his arms around my neck. “Bye-bye, Auntie Kate.” I hug him back; then he hugs Charlie.
TJ and Violet are coming down the hallway as we step out of Deacon’s room.
I send Charlie downstairs to join Maui and Asgard, and Noah and I go to Noah’s room.
As soon as the door clicks shut behind us and Noah has secured the lock, his mouth is on mine.
During the past three months, he and I have kissed thousands of times. Yes, his kisses are that addictive.
But something aboutthiskiss is different.
And I have no idea why.
29
Noah
Tellher that I love her or forever keep silent?The question pays me a visit like the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. It’s the same question that has played in my head since Violet told me I need to tell Kate how I feel about her.
