Broken Hero

Her smile is wide. “You know what, funnily enough, I’m not either.”

I see a sudden flash of grey and white in my peripheral view, followed by two paws on the edge of the table. Dark eyes are glued to the picnic basket and a pink nose twitches.

“Down, buddy.”

Austin drops to the ground and trots over to us. He lies down with a sigh, looking very innocent, but I can see that his eyes keep flicking to the basket and the goods inside.

Lucy reaches over to open it. “What’s in here?”

“Oh, you know… A bit of everything.”

“No way. Is this the Morris special from Ricky’s?”

“Yes. He almost had a heart attack when I ordered it, I think. I wanted to remind you of how we met.”

“And toffee cookies? They can’t be from the bakery?”

“They sure are. I might have had some help.”

“Mhm… but the ice tea?”

“That’s all me.” I put my hand on her hip and smooth my thumb over her waist. It’s impossible to have her this close and not want to touch her. When she looks over at me, her smile fades, struck by my sudden seriousness.

“Thank you, Lucy.”

“For what?””For believing in me.”

She kisses me softly, her lips just barely brushing across mine. “No, Oliver,” she murmurs. “Thank you.”

Epilogue

Several years later

My father liked to say that ‘life is tough, and then you die.’ It was his motto for most things-for enduring hardship, for carrying on in the face of trouble. For accepting that things are rarely perfect.

I’d said that a lot, too. I’d believed it. But I’ve learned something new. Between the tough times and death, you give it everything you have. You take the bad, but you make damn sure you search for the good, too. And when you find it, you don’t let it go without a fight.

Because life is all of the above. It’s about facing terrible odds and surviving in spite of them, but it’s also about taking risks. About being brave enough to love, despite the potential for pain. It’s about being true to who you are regardless of what people say. I think that Lucy taught me that, but whenever I mention it to her, she insists on correcting me. ‘We learned it together,” she likes to say. The years have been good for us.

They’ve been good to the ranch, too. We’re busier than ever, currently undergoing our second expansion. It’s an expansion I’ve been working towards for half of my life.

Sarah frowns at the bouquet she’s arranging. “Do you think this needs more hydrangeas?”

“Sarah, they’re not going to notice.”

“But I want it to be perfect.”

I squeeze her shoulders. “They’re not coming in search of perfection. They’re coming to heal.”

The swing doors to the kitchen open and Sophia marches in. She’s carrying an electronic tablet and wearing the scowl she’s recently adopted, reminding us all that she’s rapidly approaching her teenage years.

“What’s Aunt Lucy doing?

“She’s out by the wellness center,” I say. “You could go and see if she needs any help.”

Sophia jumps up on one of the stools. “In that case, Nora’s already with her, I suppose.”

“Then where’s Theo?”

Sophia shrugs and bends over her tablet, lost to the world of electronics. Well then.

Sarah sends me a fond smile. “He’s probably with his mother.”

“Yes, but-”

Austin comes sprinting in through the backdoor. My son is running at full speed after him, arms outstretched. “Doggy!”

I scoop down and catch him around the waist. He squirms a bit at first but settles as soon as he realizes he’s not going anywhere. Baleful green eyes turn on me.

“Doggy?”

I look down at Austin. He’s panting on the floor next to me. He’s not as quick as he used to be and grey peppers the fur around his nose.

“Doggy’s tired,” I tell Theo. “He needs to rest for a bit.”

I scratch Austin behind the ear and his tail wags slowly against the floor. My first and truest companion. There was a time, right when I got back stateside, when he was all that got me out of bed in the morning. I plan on draining an entire bottle of whiskey the day he has to be put down.

Sophia puts away her tablet. “I’ll keep him company. Can I give him his treats?”This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

“Sure. You know where they are?”

Sarah smiles at us. “I’ll show her. Go find your wife.”

“Are you giving me orders now?”

She tsks. “I can tell you’re nervous, and she’ll calm you down. Come here, baby.” She stretches her arms out for Theo, but I shake my head.

“I’ll bring him with me, I think.”

She musses up his golden hair, and he laughs, the high and innocent laughter of a small child. I smile at the sound. It’s a good thing he’s cute, because he can be a little devil, too.

We head out towards the wellness center. Theo is calm in my arms for approximately four seconds before he begins to squirm again.

“Horsey?”

“No, not right now.”

He frowns, but his disappointment is short-lived. “Tractors?”