Chapter Twenty-Nine
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DYLAN HELD WILL’S hand and walked up the porch steps to Owen’s front door. Will pulled him in the other direction, but Dylan held tight, tugging Will toward the door.
“Horsies,” Will said for the hundredth time since they got out of the car.
“Later. Let’s at least say hello to everyone first.”
He knocked on the door and walked in without waiting for Owen or Claire to let them in. At Brody and Owen’s house, his too, family was always welcome.
“Horsies,” Will shouted, trying to escape his grip to run back out the front door and go to the barn.
“Hi Uncle Dylan. We’ll take him,” Dawn said, her sister, Autumn, nodding her agreement.
“Thank you, girls.” He bent and made Will look at him, by holding his shoulders. “Do you remember the rules?”
“Pet nice. Stay outside the gate, not inside. Hand flat to give the apples.”
“What else?”
“Do what Dawn and Autumn say.”
“Excellent. Be good.” He held his arms open and Will gave him a hug. He released his son and turned to the girls. “Where’s my hug?” The girls launched themselves into his chest. He held them tight before letting them go. Each of them took one of Will’s hands to take him outside. “Where is everyone?” he asked before they left.
“Out back,” Autumn said.
Dylan walked down the hallway and through the kitchen. He stepped out the open back door onto the deck. Brody and Owen manned the grill. Rain and Claire sat at the holding their sons, David and Sean.
“Dylan,” they all called, nearly in unison.
He laughed and accepted the beer Brody handed him. “Hey guys, how’s it going?”
“Where’s Will?” Rain asked.
“With the horses. And Dawn and Autumn,” he added.
Owen chuckled. “You’ve got to get that boy a horse.”
“Why? He’s got yours to play with and I don’t have to clean up after them.”
“Where’s your girl?” Brody asked.
“I didn’t invite her,” he admitted, wishing he had, but knowing he had to do something to draw her out.
“Why not?” Claire asked. “We expected you to bring her.”
“I thought you two made up,” Rain said.
“We did, but it’s turned into this weird thing.”
“So, what, it’s not going to work out?” Brody asked. “You changed your mind.”
“Hell no. The damn woman is stubborn. I thought we made real progress the day she went home from the hospital. Will and I stayed at her place—in the guest room,” he added to wipe the raised eyebrows and knowing smiles off their faces. “We shared a meal and some real conversation. It was good. Better than good.”
“So, what did you do?” Rain asked.
“I took her lunch several times over the last couple weeks. I sent her flowers. I left her some notes on her car when she came into town. I have gone out of my way to spend time with her every chance I’ve had between work and taking care of Will.”
“Okay, so if we’re having a family barbeque, why didn’t you bring her? This is the perfect time for her to get to know us better and for you to spend time with her.” Claire eyed him, looking at him like he was an idiot.
“I did all those things. She just goes along. Unless I go see her, I don’t see her. Unless I call, I don’t speak to her. Unless I start the conversation, we don’t speak. The harder I try to get close to her, the more she stalls.”
“You don’t think she wants to be with you?” Owen asked.
“No. That’s not it. When we’re together, everything is great. But unless I’m right in front of her, it’s like I don’t exist. So, I backed off. I’m not going to call or go see her until she comes to me this time.”
“Bad idea,” Rain said.
“You’re asking for trouble,” Claire added.
“Back me up here, guys. I can’t carry this whole relationship on my own.”
Brody and Owen stood together and both of them shook their heads.
“Listen to the women,” Brody said, nodding in his wife’s direction.
Dylan turned to Rain. “Okay, what did I do wrong?”
“You answer that question first. What is it that you did that frightens her the most?”
“I left her.”
“Yes. And?” Rain coaxed.
“She’s afraid I’ll do it again. But I’ve spent the last two weeks trying to show her that I’m here for her.”
“Yes, I imagine you’ve been a very good friend,” Claire said, though she didn’t make it sound like a good thing in this case.