I smile as I start to take everything outside to load it into the car. It takes me three trips to get everything in. “Okay, that’s it. Let’s go, Owen.”
“Yes.” Owen runs outside.
“Coming out to say goodbye, babe?” I ask Cameron as I walk out the front door.
He throws his paper down, drags himself off the couch, and walks out to the car.
“I can’t believe you’re actually going without me,” he murmurs.
“I can’t believe that you don’t want to come,” I reply as I throw Owen his little leather working gloves as he sits in the backseat.
“What are these?” he asks excitedly.
“Your working gloves. I got you some working boots, too, big boy.”
His eyes widen in excitement. “Awesome.”
Cameron frowns. “I don’t want him working on that house.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s exactly why we’re going, Cameron, so he can learn that just because his daddy has money doesn’t mean he gets things for free.”
Cameron looks at me, deadpan.
“I want him to be proud of what we build and renovate.” I smile softly up at Cam and he frowns. “This is like the ultimate family hobby. Something that we can achieve together.”
Cameron rolls his eyes in an over-dramatic fashion.
“And you’re in this family, Cameron.” I widen my eyes to accentuate my point.
He shakes his head. “Do you have any shovels packed?”
“What for?” I ask.
“Grave digging!” he snaps. “Give me ten minutes.”
“Your things are already in the car.” I smile broadly.
He looks at me, deadpan. “Did you just play me?”
“Like a fiddle.” I kiss him softly on the lips and he shakes his head.
“You’re a pain in my ass, Tucker.”
“But you love me, right?”
“Unfortunately.” He marches inside and ten minutes later he reappears, all showered and ready with a case of wine under his arm. “I need alcohol if I’m staying in that hell hole.”
“Already packed and in the car.” I tap my temple. “Up here for thinking...”
He raises an eyebrow and points to my sex. “And down there for dancing?” He slams Owen’s car door shut. “My only goal this weekend is to pop that airbed with your body.” He gets in and starts the car. “Get in, Tucker, before Owen and I leave you here.”
“Mom, it’s nearly time to get it started. Come look,” Owen calls in excitement.
I walk out of the barn to see my men’s afternoon handiwork, and I smile broadly. It’s dusk, and we’ve been working all day. I’ve swept and cleaned the barn. We decided to sleep out here tonight. It’s in much better condition than the house is, and we know that if it rains the roof definitely doesn’t leak. The stone wall and floor are both rock-solid. I’ve prepared our beds and sleeping bags, and I’m just finishing with the windows. “Wow.” I raise my eyebrows. “Impressive.”
Owen and Cameron built a fire pit together. They cleared a space, collected rocks, and then placed them carefully in a circle, four high. They have three folding chairs positioned around it, and the marshmallows are front and center with three long toasting sticks ready.
I throw down my window-cleaning rags and take a seat by the fire.
Cameron’s face falls as he thinks. “Do we have any matches?”
I raise my eyebrows. “Didn’t you think of that before you started building this?” I ask.
“No.” Cameron sighs as he drags his hand down his face.
Owen’s little shoulders slump in disappointment.
“Lucky I was a Girl Scout,” I tease. I go to my supplies bag and pull out a cigarette lighter I brought from home. I’ve thought of everything... I hope. I pass the lighter to Cameron and he lights the paper they have scrunched up around the kindling, and it slowly starts to take off.
“Mom, quick take a photo of me and Dad with our fire to send to Jenna,” Owen says, wide-eyed.