Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“We did.”
“I mean, I know it was all you and your brother and the contractors’ work, not mine, but it’s awesome.”
“Hey, you’re the one with all of the design sense,” I told him.
The first knock at the door came soon after, and it was Charlie, smiling sweetly and holding two bottles of apple cider.
“Figured most people would be drinking, so I’d provide the non-alcoholic option for myself,” he said.
I gave him a long hug. “You’ve been doing so well, Charlie.”
“I needed it,” he said.
After hitting rock bottom three months back, Charlie had been on a break from drinking and had started seeing a therapist to work out his shitty experience with his ex. He knew he needed help, and he was finally caring for himself in a way that made me prouder than I knew how to express.
And then over the next half hour, more and more people started coming through Rush’s new, big, beautiful front door. My whole family showed up one by one, each of them carrying foods or desserts or drinks that looked incredible. All of the contractors that we’d hired to work on Rush’s home were invited, too, to see the true final project in all its glory.
And when Nathan showed up, he was sporting a new, slick haircut that made him look fantastic. It was styled with a natural, wavy swoop on top and shorter on the sides, a classic, dapper cut.
“Holy shit,” I said, giving him a hug as I greeted him. “You really are a hot dad, now.”
“Gross,” Maddy said as she walked in behind him. “But I agree, his haircut makes him look less like a frumpy granola-eater from the seventies.”
“Hey,” Nathan protested, giving his daughter a look of mock hurt. “I thought my longer hair looked cool and alternative.”
“It looked good, Dad, whatever,” Maddy said, waving a hand. “This new one is just better. Oh my God, did grandma make pigs in a blanket?”
Maddy was off like a rocket toward the long table of finger foods.
“You really do look like a male model or something with that haircut,” I said. “I don’t think you’ll be single much longer.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Nathan said. “Not everyone wants a single dad, no matter how cool my daughter might be.”
“You’d be surprised,” I said, shrugging. “You can find love in all sorts of strange places.”
He gave me a shove. “Quit your bragging and show me to the fire pit.”
Soon, the party was rolling and the house was full. Everyone seemed to love the transformation, even though most people had never seen the inside.
“You’re never going to guess who’s here,” Rush said, putting his arm around me as he found me outside helping Dad grill up some burgers.
“Who?”
“Mr. Gruff Mountain Man himself.”
“Harlan showed up?”
“Carpooled with Jax,” Rush said. “He’s out front inspecting the porch as we speak.”
“I’ve got to see this,” I said, heading around the side gate with Rush until we entered the front yard and saw Harlan pointing below the deck, giving Jax a lecture of some sort.
“You see?” Harlan was saying. “They did a really good job with Rushing’s deck, I’m going to give them that. But this right here is prime raccoon nest real estate. There’s going to be a raccoon family in here within weeks. Oh, hey, Shawn. Hey, Rush.”
“You don’t think our deck job was good enough?”
“Hey, I said it was good,” Harlan protested, standing up tall and brushing off his pants. “Raccoons can live just about wherever they want, though, and this here is a nice little corner for ‘em under the deck.”
“Okay, okay, we’ll put some chicken wire there,” I said.
“Hah!” Harlan laughed. “As if raccoons care about some flimsy chicken wire.”
“This man seems to know everything about the animals that live in the mountains,” I told Jax, who was watching intently, wearing his backward hat as usual.
“He told me a lot of stories about moose and cattle and sheep and deer on the drive over,” Jax said, his eyes a little glazed over.
“Come on inside, guys. Plenty of food.”
When they walked in through the open front doors, Harlan let out a sigh as he looked around and then turned back toward me and Rush on the porch. “I have to admit, you all made this place something special. I visited your old man here all the time, Rush, and he struggled with making it a home. You’ve done that.”
“I’m touched, Harlan,” Rush said.
“Bring it here,” Harlan said, opening his arms to give Rush a hug. “Your pops would have been proud of you.”
As Harlan was hugging him, Rush gave me a look of shock from over Harlan’s broad shoulder.
For the first time ever, Harlan was accepting Rush. Not treating him like some punk kid who’d come to take over his father’s old brewery. I was just as surprised as Rush was.