Page 79 of Wilde Hearts

“Good morning, Mom,” I said, as I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Is Dad here?”

“Of course he is. We finished breakfast not that long ago, and I’ve been in the kitchen making some bread. Come on in.”

Ensley and I exchanged a look before following my mother into the house. My father stood right inside the door with a wide smile, as well.

“Have you two kids made up?” he asked, with a hopeful expression on his face.

Ensley glanced at me. “I’m waiting on your son to ask me out on a date.”

“Starting fresh, are we?” my mother asked, as she motioned us to follow her into the kitchen. The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air, and I couldn’t help but let out a low moan.

“That smells so good, Mom.”

“She’s on a baking mission. Sourdough bread, banana nut bread, and right now she’s got a cinnamon apple bread in the oven.”

“Would you like a slice?” Mom asked us.

“I would love a slice,” Ensley replied, as I nodded.

Soon, my mother had three different types of homemade jam on the table, along with freshly cut banana nut bread.

“Jacob, you can have one slice, and that’s it. You’ve already had some.”

My father didn’t argue; he simply took his slice and smiled at it like a man who hadn’t eaten in days. Then he paused and eyed my mother. “Did you somehow sneak kale into this?”

All she did was smile, which caused Ensley and me to laugh. My father stared at the bread for a long second, then shrugged and took a large bite, clearly deciding it didn’t matter whether it was hiding kale or not.

“Mom, Dad, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

They both looked over at me.

“Is everything okay?” my mother asked.

“Yes,” Ensley responded before I could. She quickly looked at me and mouthed sorry. I reached for her hand and held it as I focused back on my mother and father.

“I wanted to talk to you about Grady’s room.”

My mother’s face instantly drained of color, as my father leaned back in his chair, his expression suddenly emotionless. “What about it?” he asked.

“It doesn’t look like anyone has touched it in years, if at all.”

Mom cleared her throat and started to wring her hands. “I try to go in twice a year and dust.”

I looked at my father, who was silent for a moment, staring at the table, before he finally said, “I haven’t been in there in about four years or so.”

My heart aching for my parents, I said gently, “I think it’s time we cleaned it out.”

My mother sank into a chair and closed her eyes, her head down. “It’s beyond time.”

The sense of relief between Ensley and me was palpable.

Taking my mother’s hand in his, my father gave her a soft smile before focusing his attention on me. “I agree with your mother. We just haven’t been able to bring ourselves to take that step. We have talked about it…but it’s so hard. Taking that first step is like trying to step across the Grand Canyon for your mother and me.”

I relaxed a bit more in my seat.

“Colt and I can take care of it.”

My mother gave Ensley a hopeful look. “Would you? I just…I don’t think I can. Not even after all this time. I’ve tried. I really have. There are boxes in the basement…I just haven’t been able to bring myself to do it.”