My uncle would've gotten a kick out of it.
"Archer!" Rourke's voice booms across the yard, and I look up to see him strolling toward me with two mugs. "You look like a man who woke up much too early. Take another coffee."
"Was up at five-fifteen."
"Pathetic." He shakes his head and takes a sip of his coffee. "In my day, we slept till six like civilized men."
"Your day? You’re barely four years older than me."
“And it shows.” He grins—all charm.
“I like being the first to see the sun.”
“You’re as wacky as my wife,” he grumbles. “I barely have my eyes open and Opal’s already sketched a new living area with specs.”
Opal’s an architect, and Teagan’s sister. Meaning Rourke is Connor’s brother-in-law. God help him.
"Big weekend," he says, leaning against the pavilion post. "You ready?"
"You bet I am."
Graham appears from the direction of the axe range, broad as a barn door, carrying a splitting maul over one shoulder. Sky's beside him, phone in hand, filming something for her channel. She's narrating in that bright, effortless way of hers: "—andhere we have Graham D'Amico, world's grumpiest lumberjack, looking like he wants to murder the camera. Say hi, babe."
"No," Graham says.
"Perfect content. Love you." She blows him a kiss and he pretends not to smile. But fails.
"Dean!" Sky pivots to me. "Can I get a quick clip of the pavilion setup for the weekend preview reel?"
"Only if you don't call me a Lumbersnack Daddy."
"I make no promises." She chuckles.
Graham sets the maul down and gives me a nod. We don't talk about feelings. But last month, when a guest's husband got belligerent during a demo, Graham stepped in front of me before I could react. Not because he didn't trust me. But because he understood the consequences if I was the one who had to handle it.
He never mentioned it. Neither did I. We look out for each other. That's how this crew works.
Ewan and his wife, Hazel, arrive together, his arm slung around her shoulders, her nose in a spreadsheet she printed out for some reason nobody can fathom since the woman has three tablets.
"Morning, lad!" Ewan calls. "Ready for the onslaught?"
"You keep using that word. We’re hosting guests, not the Battle of Stirling Bridge."
"Every big group is a battle, Dean. The trick is having fun during the fight." He winks. Hazel rolls her eyes but leans into him, and there's a softness in her smile that still surprises people who only know her as the numbers genius.
Brady walks out of the dining hall. Kaylee and I had dinner with him and Imogen last week in town. I had a blast enjoying a hearty meal with good friends. He catches my eye across the yard and lifts his chin. I lift mine back.
"Dean!" Jamie comes rocketing around the corner of the office building, legs pumping, a toy dinosaur in one hand and half a muffin in the other. Blue Truck has apparently been retired in favor of Rex, who is, according to Jamie, "way faster and caneatbad guys."
He crashes into my legs like a small, sticky cannonball.
"Hey, buddy." I crouch down. "Rex looks fierce today."
"He ate a WHOLE MOUNTAIN," Jamie informs me.
"That's a lot of mountain."
"It was a small mountain. But still." He holds up the muffin. "Want some? Mama made them. There's blueberries, but I picked out the squishy ones." He grimaces.