“No. No, I want—I mean, what good is this opportunity if I miss time with you and our boys?” He wanted to be able to enjoy all this—together.
“That’s how I feel. We should have more time together now, I think. I’m going to work, but on my terms because…well, I don’t really need to do I?”
“Not for the money, but for the love of it, right? And we’re about to have two incredibly busy young men to deal with.” Those two wanted to try everything. Everything.
“I’m in. I’m so in.” Connor pulled into the driveway and parked right out front. “No room in the garage.”
From the outside, the house looked exactly the same, no sign that they were moving at all. But walking through the front door, everything changed. There were only two boxes in the foyer, but there were stacks in the dining room and living room. “Welcome home.”
“Home is in Durango. This is our old house.” And he was ready to put his head down and get to work. “Alexa, play karaoke music!”
“Old house. Right. Home is where our kids are.” Connor leaned close to his ear. “Home is where you are.” Connor pinched his butt and danced off to the kitchen.
That was right. Home was where they were. Together.
With all their shit.
13
“Ican’t believe this is your last day.”
Connor had heard that several times this morning as his colleagues dropped by his office—his former office—to say goodbye. They’d had a fancy breakfast together complete with a champagne toast to send him off, and he had a box full of going away trinkets that he’d been given too.
These people were coworkers, but a lot of them were friends too, and he’d miss them. “Thanks, Jackie.” A text came in from Early, the third or fourth random question about the basement, and he answered it. “Sorry, I have so much going on.” He gave her a hug. “Really, thank you. I’m going to miss everyone.”
“Keep in touch?”
“You know I will.” Would he? Or was that just a thing people said to make an awkward situation seem less of a big deal? He didn’t know.
“Honestly. I mean, if you start your own practice, virtual work is a thing!”
“You know it.” He wasn’t sure about starting a full practice on his own, but at this point he wasn’t ruling anything out. He led Jackie to his office door. He needed to finish packing up. “I’ll let everyone know when I’m settled in.”
“Do that. Safe travels, Connor.”
He managed to escape her and closed his door slightly to deter people, then went back to loading up his box. He only needed one; everything about work had to stay with the firm, including his laptop. But he had plenty of family pictures and a few awards, his personal files, and the leather desk set that Early had gifted him for his desk when he started with the firm.
Memories. That’s what he was taking home with him. Lots of memories.
His phone rang, and he was surprised to see it was Early’s Mom. That couldn’t be good. “Momma? Everything okay?”
“Oh, fine. Early says it’s your last day, so I was just calling to say we can’t wait to have you here with us, finally.”
Finally. She was very sweet and meant well, though. “Subtle as always, Momma. I am packing up, and I am looking forward to see you all too.”
“I’m sure you miss your boys.”
“I do, very much.”And if people keep interrupting me, I’ll never get out of here.
“Early missed you terribly, you know.”
“I know, Momma. I missed him more.”
Momma chuckled. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”
“Hey, Momma, I have to get things wrapped up here, we have a drive tonight.”
“Oh, of course, don’t let me keep you. See you tomorrow at family day?”