I have a feeling that Noah’s favorite spot is going to be the same as mine. The back porch. This is two feet wider than the other three sides because I have a hot tub set back, and I still wanted room to be able to walk around the whole of my cabin without having a giant bath in the way.
I haven’t confessed to Noah that I haven’t used the hot tub since it was fitted. No matter how much my muscles have ached? I’ve always used the tub in the bathroom to ease them.
The addition to the porch was an extravagance, and one that Noah had suggested. There are a few things around the cabin that Noah suggested. Even after he left, I couldn’t bring myself to scrub them from the plans. My injured heart had lived in hope that Noah would one-day return, and he has.
Even though it was my idea for us to come and spend the weekend here, I’m not sure how I really feel about having him in the cabin I built for us. If Noah was serious about wanting to be back with me, and to pick up our relationship where we left it, then seeing this cabin will be filling him with hope, as it is me. I’m fighting to keep my emotions in check when all I want to do is join him inside and christen the master suite.
“Son, I didn’t know you’d be here this weekend,” my dad says with delight clear in his voice. He steps up onto the porch and wraps me up in his arms before I can even get my head around the fact that he’s here.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were coming up? Your mom would have gotten you some supplies,” he chides, gently.
I tell him the truth, “I didn’t know. It was last minute,” and then I go for broke, “I’ve brought a friend with me.”
He raises a brow.
I cringe because the look on his face tells me he’s thinking along the female line.
“Your mom will be pleased.”
“Ramon, that’s one fucking bed—” Noah cuts off when he sees I’m not alone. “Um, sorry.”
Shaking my head, I introduce the two men, “Dad, this is a good friend of mine, and Carla’s brother, Noah.”
My dad looks stunned.
“Does she know you’re back?”
“She does,” Noah replies.
“In that case, welcome to the family.” Dad pulls Noah into a bear hug…never one for formalities. “Call me, Elias.”
“I can do that,” Noah agrees, taking a step back.
Dad looks between the two of us before grinning. “You’ll both come up to the house for dinner. Pippa will be happy to finally meet Noah.”
I groan.
Dad chuckles.
Noah looks lost.
I fill him in, “Mom will take it upon herself to find you a woman to have babies with.”
“Hell no,” he blurts out. “I mean, um, no disrespect but, well, hell no.” He shudders.
My laughter can’t be contained anymore and bursts forth.
Dad chuckles, and turns toward the steps. “Well, I just came up to say hi and should get back to the house.” He takes a step off the porch before turning back to us. His smile is wicked as he says, “She’ll have a couple of women out here so quickly you won’t have time to get into your truck.”
Noah glares at me, which tells me he isn’t impressed at all with the outcome of this meeting.
“Um, Dad,” I shout.
“Son.”
“Not tonight, we have something else planned, but we’ll be at the family lunch on Sunday.”
“Hmm, okay.”
I watch my dad disappear through the trees, which separate my house from the family one, and try to come up with an explanation for Noah as to why I wasn’t completely honest about our relationship.
Nothing comes to mind. The fact is, I just wasn’t ready.
“Noah, I should have told him…I’m sorry.”
My words are inadequate, and are met with silence.
Glancing over my shoulder, he isn’t there. I quickly turn and look around, but he’s disappeared.
Shoving away from the porch railing, I head inside. Dashing through the kitchen, I come to a stop when I find him standing at the window in the living room, looking outside.
“Your father wants you married off as much as your mom,” he states.
He read my dad perfectly.
“My folks want all five of their sons married with kids. My mom thinks if that happens she can rest knowing that we’re not going to be alone.” I shrug. “You heard what Ruben said this morning about our parents.”
I take a chance and slowly invade his space.
My hands rest loosely on his hips, and I smile when I notice his fists clench.
“We’re not able to have children, but I won’t be alone as long as I have you,” I whisper against his ear. “I know both my parents will be happy as long as I am…I’m just finding the words keep getting stuck at the back of my throat.”
“They can’t stay down forever, Ramon.” He drops his head to the window.
I lean in and press a kiss to the nape of his neck and let my lips hover. “I know. I told you that I’ll tell them at lunch, and I will.”