Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“Why are you still keeping your place?” Autumn asks.
“I said you could move in here,” Duke says, taking the balloons from Autumn’s hand, creating an amusing visual contrast — giant, tattooed strong man holding a cheery blue and white balloon bouquet.
“Maybe I will soon, but let’s see how things go once all five of us are here. It might be too crowded.”
“Then we’ll move,” Duke says, “like we’ve talked about.”
We have discussed the possibility of buying a bigger house together, but nothing concrete has been decided. “We can worry about it later. There’s still a lot to do, isn’t there?”
“We just need to decorate,” Autumn says with a smile.
While she and I hang the “Welcome Home” banner and the crepe paper, Duke mixes up a marinade for the chicken.
The three of us worked together last night to make macaroni salad, potato salad, and bake a cake. We’ll also be having baked beans, chips and salsa, and there’s ice cream to go with the cake.
As much as I’m excited about all of the food, I’m even more looking forward to seeing the guys in whose honor the party is being held. Even though I haven’t seen them for more than a week at a time this past year, we have had a lot of weekend visits, and when we can all drag ourselves away from the bedroom for an hour or so, we’ve gone fishing, played basketball, watched movies together, and done other stuff I’d imagined doing with brothers, if I had any.
I have honorary brothers now, and it’s an unexpected bonus that I’m very thankful for. I’d have never thought I’d be as close to Trevor, Adrian, and Duke as I am. Maybe it’s inevitable in this sort of relationship, or at least, it should be if things are going to go well.
The four of us are bonded in our love for Autumn, and the bond is strong.
We’re tying balloons onto the dining chairs when Autumn’s phone buzzes.
“It’s Trevor,” she says. “They’re almost here!”
It’s hard to say how much of my excitement over Trevor and Adrian’s return has to do with how much I like spending time with them, or how happy it’s going to make Autumn for us all to be together.
The two firefighters have been hired by Whitman’s fire department; they’re coming home for good. The ironic thing is that Autumn will be the one still traveling to Raleigh once in a while. She got in with two bars there, and they want her to continue playing, at least every few months. She’s also still playing regularly at Rusty’s, as well as at a bar in Whitman and another in Hayden County.
All of us thought Autumn would give up her IT work, but even though she’s performed a few original songs at her gigs, she says she’s realized that she isn’t interested in putting all of her focus into music. She likes the balance between the two parts of her career and seems to find both very satisfying. She also appreciates the flexibility she has to be with all of us whenever the opportunity arises. There’ll be plenty of opportunities starting today.
“Should we dim the lights, hide, jump out and yell ‘surprise’?” she asks.
“You can,” Duke says, chuckling.
“Either way, they’ll be surprised about the party,” I tell her.
While we’re talking about it, the sound of a key in the front door tells us the question is now moot. Autumn and I do yell, “Surprise,” when the door is opened and Adrian comes in, followed closely by Trevor.
“What’s all this?” Adrian asks.
The men’s eyes dart around the room, taking in the party decorations, but they quickly return their focus to Autumn, and they keep their eyes locked on her as they head directly to her and take her in their arms.
“Welcome home,” she tells them, before they keep her mouth too busy for talking. They hold her tight and squeeze her against them like men who’ve been out to sea for a couple of years.
“We missed you so much,” Trevor tells her.
“I’ve missed you too. We all have,” she says, pulling away just enough to turn toward Duke and me.
“Welcome home,” I tell them.
“Welcome home for good,” Duke says, sounding like he never wants them to move away again, even though I know he’s incredibly proud of the work they’ve been doing.
“I won’t say long distance relationships suck,” Autumn says, “because nothing in our year together has been bad, but it has been challenging. Sometimes I felt like this day would never come.”
“It’s here,” Adrian says. “We’re here.”
Autumn’s face glows with happiness as she gestures to Duke and me. “Come here. I want all of you around me.”
We crowd in without hesitation, all of us surrounding her, hugging her, holding her.
This is where she wants us, and this is where we’ll always be.