I hear you buddy. You know now, don’t you?
Hunt reached for the matchbook on the table and lit the candles again.
“I wish he could have known it wasn’t his fault. I’m sure it ate away at him all the time. I sure know how he felt.” Keely’s voice was low.
“He changed so much after the accident. It must have haunted him every day.” Natalie wiped at her tears. “Gosh, I miss him so much.”
“I know you do, sis. I’m sorry.”
Natalie let out a long sigh. “It’s been so nice having you here for a while. Another adult person to talk to. You’ve been such a great help, but I know you’ve been getting job offers for photo assignments. It’s time you got on with your life. The boys and I will be fine. We will.”
Keely looked over at him, searching his face for his reaction to Natalie’s words, obviously waiting to hear what he’d say, because he knew he’d kept repeating to anyone who asked that he was leaving after Summerfest.
“I don’t know, Nat. It’s going to be hard to leave. I’m kind of getting used to being here. I think the boys are getting used to me being around. I even remembered to go to the market today.” Hunt shook his head. “Of course the groceries are still in the truck with windshield glass all over them. I did cover the windshield up earlier today though. We’ll get it fixed as soon as possible. I’ll see what I can salvage of the food and bring it back with me tonight.”
Just then the boys came racing down the stairs.
“Uncle Hunt. Uncle Hunt.” Jamie launched himself into this uncle’s arms. “You saved us today, didn’t you?”
“Well, I…”
“Yes, boys. Your uncle took very good care of you today. Kept you safe. I knew he would.” Natalie wrapped an arm around Jesse, who came and stood by her side.
“He was awesome, wasn’t he Miss Keely? Mom, should have seen him turn the truck around and get us into the Magnolia Cafe. He hid us in the pantry with Miss Keely and Miss Katherine.” Jackson stood by the table.
“That was quick thinking on his part.”
“He stood over all of us when the door blew open to the pantry so we wouldn’t get hit with the stuff blowing around.” Jesse chimed in to the storytelling.
Natalie reached over and covered his hand. “I can never thank you enough for keeping the boys safe. I knew I could depend on you.”
Hunt looked at the boys and Natalie in the dancing light from the candles. He’d spent so many years just dropping into town for a few days at a time in between assignments. He’d forgotten what it was like to feel like this. Like he was part of a family. Like he belonged.
And he realized he liked the feeling.
He liked it quite a bit, actually. He liked helping Natalie and the boys and was no longer willing to run from any and all responsibility. It had felt right to be there for the boys, for Natalie. He looked at Keely sitting silently at the table.
And it felt right to be there for Keely.
He leaned back in his chair. “You know what? I don’t think I’m going to head out after all.”
“You’re going to stay in Comfort Crossing?” Jamie jumped up and down. “Yes.”
“I am going to stay. Might move out and find a place of my own, but I’m going to stay in town.” He turned to Keely and took her hand in his, looking directly into her eyes. “How do you feel about that? Would you like me to stay?”
Keely sat silently, then a smile slowly spread across her face. “I would. I’d like that very much.”
He leaned over and kissed her quickly on the lips.
“Seriously, Uncle Hunt. Right here in front of the little kids?” Jackson rolled his eyes.
“I’m not a little kid,” Jamie retorted.
Natalie stood up, grinned at Hunt, and turned to the boys. “How about you show me the fort you made?”
The boys led her up the stairs with shouts of “Me first!” and Jamie still exclaiming he wasn’t a little kid.
“Hunt, are you sure about this?”
“I am so sure. I want to stay here. I want to be here for Natalie and the boys.” He paused for a moment gathering his courage. “And I want to be here for you. I’m crazy about you.”
He reached over and brushed a wisp of hair away from her face and traced his finger along her check. “Keely, I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“I love you, too, Hunt Robichaux.”
His heart soared. He stood up and took her in his arms, twirling her around. Keely laughed out loud.
“You’re crazy.”
“Crazy about you.”
He set her back down on the floor. “So, I have no idea what I’m going to do, but I’ll figure something out. I could do more construction, I enjoy that. I’ve wanted to do up a photography book from my travels.”