Ames Hammond pulled into the park-and-wait lot at the Denver airport, already ready to be out of the eight-passenger SUV he’d rented. He put the vehicle in park, thinking maybe he’d buy something like this for his next car. He’d always liked driving a pickup truck or his police cruiser, but maybe he should start to switch things up.
He’d been making a lot of changes in the past several months. Why not extend that to what he drove?
The temperature in Colorado would not allow him to stay outside for long, but he’d been driving for two hours, and the trip back to the farm in Ivory Peaks would take just as long. He tucked his hands in his parka pockets, his mind on the people flying in from Wyoming.
Three of his brothers and their significant others, along with baby Michael. Thus, Ames needed the eight-passenger vehicle to get them all from the airport to the farm. Gray had flown to Coral Canyon a couple of days ago, and he, Elise, Hunter and their new baby had parked at the airport, so they’d drive themselves back to the farm. Gray had promised Ames he’d pay for the SUV and bring everyone back to the airport in several days.
Ames had accepted, though he didn’t need the money. He had plenty of money. “You’re going to have to tell them,” he muttered to himself, his breath steaming in front of him. He shivered, because it was cold and he didn’t want to make any announcements on this Christmas Day.
He drew in a deep breath, the cold air making his lungs turn brittle. Still, he inhaled and inhaled until he felt like he would pop. Then he held all that chilly air in his lungs for a moment and finally blew it all out.
He turned around, his muscles humming with the short walk, and hurried back to the SUV. He got the vehicle started again and pressed the button for the seat heaters.
The flight should be arriving any moment, and Ames kept his eyes on the big screen with the flight numbers. He swiped on his phone and checked the text Cy had sent with the number on it. Glancing up, he found the number on the screen, and the big, bright words PICK UP NOW were flashing.
He didn’t even have time to flip the SUV into drive before Cy called. The phone rang on his device for half a ring and then transferred to the Bluetooth system and came through the speakers.
“Hello?” Ames asked. “Can you hear me?” He put his phone in the cup holder and flipped the car into Drive.
“Yeah,” Cy said, and his voice sounded among a ton of other noise. “We just arrived at baggage claim, so we’ll probably be a few minutes.” He didn’t sound super happy, but Ames knew better than to ask his twin what was happening while Cy was in a crowd. He wouldn’t say anyway, and he’d just end up more frustrated.
“Okay,” Ames said, pressing on the brake. “How about you text me when you’re almost ready? It’s not very warm.”
“It’s twenty degrees warmer here than Coral Canyon,” Cy said. “I’ll text you.”
“Great.” The call ended, and Ames stayed in his parking spot. He needed to get excited to see everyone. Once he pulled up to the curb and saw them, the joy would come. He just hated the anticipation of it. He didn’t want anyone looking at him and making a judgment, which they’d all do once he made his announcement.
He and Gray had worked really hard to get the whole family to come to Ivory Peaks for the holidays, as Coral Canyon seemed to exist inside a magical bubble of Christmas charm and holiday tinsel.
Ames had experienced it last year, and he sure had enjoyed going up the canyon to Whiskey Mountain Lodge a few months ago. While Cy worked in the shop and had others around him, Ames would make the drive and spend afternoons with Sophia. And later, if Colton or Wes could come sit with Cy, Ames would return to the cabin in the corner of the back yard and sit with Sophia.
He’d really liked her. He liked holding her hand. He liked talking to her. He liked kissing her. He simply didn’t like where she lived. She didn’t like where he lived. Neither of them were willing to relocate or sustain a long-distance relationship, and when Ames had finally left Coral Canyon to return to Colorado, he’d left