“We just want you to like it.”
He nodded to Jayden. “I like it. Listen you guys. Daddy spent a long time in Denver because I wanted to be there. He loves this ranch, and it’s my turn to be where he wants to be, that’s all. I’m not going anywhere. I don’t love Daddy any less. Actually, I may even love him more. And you guys are the most important thing to both of us.”
“Daddy told Papaw that he was scared he was making you unhappy,” Jaxson blurted out.
“Jaxson! Shut up!” Jayden pushed Jaxson, making his brother flail. “Jesus, you always telleverything.”
“Jayden,” he said sharply. “Don’t talk that way to your brother. Come here, Jax.” He helped Jaxson climb out of the pool. “Come over here, Jay.” He waited until his boys were settled. “Grownups aren’t perfect, including me and your Daddy. We’re going to make mistakes and worry whether we made the right decisions about things, just like you guys do. But he and I are a team. The four of us are a team too. So I appreciate you looking out for me.”
Jayden stared at him, so, so serious. “We just—this is a great place, and we can ride horses and swim and everything, but I asked Daddy, and he said if you are unhappy, we will go back to Denver. He says he loves you more than the ranch.”
Jaxson pushed in. “But this house is big enough for more kids, Dad. We could get a baby and puppies, and I’m going to do 4H and everything, so you’re going to be so busy getting to be Dad, and you won’t miss any of it!”
He fought tears, partly because he hadn’t fully understood what Early was going through, but mostly because he was so touched by his boys. He was raising these two kind, thoughtful people. This was the good stuff right here. This was what parenting was about.
That, and the fact that he was going to have to change because Jaxson basically just used his T-shirt as a towel.
“You want to know a secret? I have never seen Daddy so happy. Have you? And I’ve never seen the two of you so tan and busy having fun either. How could I not love it here?” He was still adjusting, but the boys needed reassurance and he had plenty of that.
“Daddy is so busy, and he never has a headache anymore. If he looks sad, he just goes and loves on the horses or jumps in the pool or we go and play with the goats. He smiles all the time.” Jaxson beamed at him, and Connor just melted.
“The best is when we have ideas now.” Jayden’s eyes were wide.
He completely agreed with Jaxson, and marveled at how observant he was. Kids really did pay attention. “Oh yeah? What ideas?”
“Like he wants to make a room in the basement that’s like a movie theater, and he’s letting us help. He says it should be a family project.”
“Oh, I love that idea. Do you want couches or reclining seats?”
He couldn’t wait to talk to Early. About this, about Reese, even about that bastard Ian. Early needed to know he was on board, hear it directly from him like the kids did. “All right, everyone get a towel, and go rinse off. We need to make lunch and then Daddy and I have a project for you while we have a meeting later.”
“And then we’re going to have tacos and buy new backpacks!” Jaxson cheered and both the boys ran for the towels. It was amazing to see them—the boys had never been idle, but Early made sure they never had time for real mischief.
It was nice to see them excited to start at their new school. He couldn’t wait for school to begin so he’d have some time to think about what was next for him, and what role he could play in this whole ranch business.
But first, an interview they hopefully weren’t going to need, then tacos and margaritas.
18
Shopping had been hilarious, the tacos had been perfect, and Connor had loved the margaritas.
Not bad for an evening.
The boys had gone down with their books without a fuss, and he went downstairs to get himself a beer. “You want a beer, darlin’?”
“Yes, please and thank you. You want to drink it on the porch?” Connor followed him down.
“Totally. That was fun with the boys, wasn’t it?” He wasn’t sure shopping for school had ever been entertaining before.
“Jaxson’s got some opinions, let me tell you. No superhero backpack for him anymore. That fatigue thing is something else. And don’t even suggest that purple was ever his favorite color.”
“He’s not a baby anymore, Da-Aa-ad.” Early did a fine Jaxson impersonation if he did say so himself.
Connor rewarded him with a laugh as they took their beers out onto the porch. “And Jayden…when did everything have to be black and white? And when did his feet get so damn big?”
“I blame the pool. No shoes, so they just get to swell uncontrollably.” It was as good an excuse as any, right?
“Yeah, okay, cowboy.” Connor snorted and sat. “So, speaking of the pool…the boys had an important discussion with me this morning.”