Early chuckled and shook his head. “Sorry, son.”
Oh good grief, Jayden knew better. “Jayden, don’t correct your father. Andpleasedon’t correct your grandparents.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, Daddy.”
Early’s list was so long it felt like they’d never be able to go home. “We better get going.”
“I know. I just wanted to share this with all y’all. It’s special.” Early shook his head. “I don’t know how I’ll be able to know it’s not in the family.”
“I bet Rick left it to Demming, right? We can help him get someone to help here.” He waved the boys back into the room. “Downstairs, guys.”
“This is the coolest, Daddy!”
“Can I bungee jump from up here?”
Early’s eyes went wide. “God no. Jaxson, downstairs. Now.”
“That’s your fault.” He laughed and followed Early out, watching as he closed the hidden door. “That is pretty cool.”
“It is. It’s a hidden library. How many houses have a hidden library?”
“This is the only one I know of that’s not in a book or a movie.” And it was more than a library, it was an amazing place, Connor thought. “It must have been pretty cool growing up.”
“It was. I spent so much time here, you know? Mommama had her book tours in the summers, mostly, and Daddy went with her, but I wanted to be here with Uncle Rick, riding.”
And Rick understood who Early was, which had to be good too. God, this had to be so hard on his husband. “I’m glad you have those memories.”
They went out to the truck, and Connor breathed in the clean air. It was lovely here. He hoped that Rick had made arrangements that would keep it in Early’s life. That was obviously on Early’s mind too.
He supposed they’d find out soon enough.
4
They all headed into Durango, the boys choosing the music, one song after another. It was a lovely drive into the valley, with the town appearing as they followed the river in.
Early’s folks lived in a condo on the New Mexico side of the city, and they had to go through everything to get there. It was tiny compared to Denver, just a silly little mountain town, but full of life and outdoor fun.
He’d loved it here, and he had a thousand silly stories, but they weren’t something that fit in his life in Denver with Connor. He’d gone to CMC with the intention of coming home and doing research, but there wasn’t a huge call for hydrologists in the city.
“Are we almost there?”
“Soon, buddy. This place hasn’t changed much, huh?”
“No, but that’s cool. I want to go rafting again. That was so much fun!”
Yeah, and Connor had damn near died.
“We’ll see, son. It’s still too damn cold.”
“Ah, rafting. Not really my sport.” Connor snorted. “I’d try it again, though.”
“It was best when you almost fell in the water and Daddy grabbed you.” Jaxson’s giggles filled the cab.
“Yes, Daddy was my brave, strong hero.” And he’d gotten a nice blowjob in the guest room as a thank-you that night. “You nearly destroyed that pillow,” Connor whispered.
“Mmhmm…” He reached over and squeezed Connor’s thigh. God, he loved the feel of that lean muscle under the denim.
Connor covered his hand and held it. “So your Momma will disappear with the kids, you’ll sit with your dad, and …where do you want me? I can just turn on a game until you need me.”