Page 19 of Forever Ink

“See that hill, the one covered in snow?”

Rhys nodded “It looks pretty high.”

“Couple of feed bin lids make perfect toboggans, and there is a nice soft snow pile at the bottom of the hill.” I scratched my head. “Well, except for the time Mouse shot over the top of the snow mound and slid right across the pond.”

“Are you trying to encourage me or terrify me? Because right now I can’t work out which,” Rhys quipped, his hands worming under my jumper to press against the undershirt I’d worn specifically to protect my belly from his freezing hands. Rhys hated cold hands, and instead of wearing gloves he’d decided shoving them up my jumper and onto my bare skin was the best way to warm them.

“Well I thought we could maybe try it out, you and me and the hill.” I wished I had a camera for the shocked look on Rhys’s face. His mouth hung open as his eyes darted back to the hill then back to me.

“Holy shit! That would be so much fun!” Rhys slapped a hand over his mouth, but I couldn’t stop snorting in laughter.

“Hmm, I’m starting to think you ignore the no-swear rule so you will get your cute butt smacked again.”

Rhys shook his head, smiling. “No, I think my butt is tender enough, thank you very much.”

“Good to know. Now we’d better get a move on. I’m sure Dad’s got the fire going, and he’ll be expecting us.” Pulling Rhys’s hand into mine, I walked around the car and helped him into his seat, buckling him in before I closed the car door.

Dad must have heard the crunch of our tyres on the river rock drive, because he was opening the front door as we pulled up in front of the house, his steel grey hair flying about in the breeze. With three big strides he was at the car and pulling Rhys into a bear hug.

“Ey up, glad you boys made it before the snow hits.” He looked over at me, smiling “Your brother and Callum far behind?”

I grabbed our bags out of the back of the car before answering him. “They should be on their way. Cullen’s following in his own car just in case he gets a call out.”

“Sensible man, Cullen. Crotchety, but sensible.” Dad let go of Rhys and took one of the bags from me. “Come on, get your bums inside. It’s already cold enough to freeze a brass soldier’s cock off.”

We let ourselves be guided inside; boots stomped then removed in the mud room before going through to the large kitchen. The space had always been my favourite spot growing up. The large pot belly stove at one end and the giant wood oven at the other kept the space toasty warm. It was also the one part of the house where I wasn’t having to constantly duck my head to avoid the beams. The rest of the house was a health hazard for my poor head, but here in the kitchen it wasn’t a problem. Dad’s paper and glasses lay spread out on the old oak table, the crossword nearly finished. My dad had never met a crossword that had bested him yet.

“Hot drinks all around I expect? I got some hot chocolate in special for you, lad.” Dad smiled at Rhys, showing him a bag of what looked like chocolate buds. “All the way from Belgium they say. Mind you, don’t know why that’s supposed to make it better.” Dad made his way over to the fancy espresso machine that stood out in stark contrast with the rustic feel of his kitchen. Every appliance was top of the range, fancier than the rest of the house.

Rhys and I found ourselves seated at the table while Dad fussed around making sure we had hot drinks and a plate of fresh sandwiches. Once his mother instincts were appeased, he sat back down at the table. “I was thinking once you boys are settled in we could make a run up to the ridgeline and pick a tree for Christmas.” He looked over at me with a wistful smile on his face. “I’ll get you to bring down the boxes from the attic with the decorations your Mum packed away. It’s about time this family had a proper Christmas tree. And once we get that done, then you and Rhys can help me with dinner.”

Rhys nodded while trying to eat the huge ham and cheese sandwich my dad had made.

“Don’t rush it now and eat every bite.” Dad pulled his pipe out and I saw Rhys smirk.

“I see where you get it from,” Rhys whispered. I caught Dad smiling around his pipe. He’d heard it too.

I reached under the table, laying my hand on Rhys’s thigh and giving it a squeeze. “Once we’ve finished lunch you can ride on the quad bike with me.” Rhys grinned excitedly. “You taking the UTV up?” I asked my dad, who nodded. The farm UTV looked like an oversized quad with a roll cage and doors, plus it had a small tray back for carrying things. Dad mostly used it when running about the farm. Mouse and I still loved our quad bikes and any chance we got when we came up here, we were on them. I knew there was a high chance we would all go out on them so packed in my bags was a new bike helmet for Rhys.

“Yes, we can strap the tree on the back and Lizzie will want a break from the pups and a ride up to the ridge.” A black and white dog’s head appeared around the corner, her tail banged on the doorframe as she wagged it

“Puppy!” Rhys cooed.

Lizzie pushed the door open and came in, followed by five miniature copies of her. Rhys’s sandwich was forgotten as he sprang from his chair and dropped down on the rug to meet Lizzie and her pups. His giggle when he was swarmed by small noses and tongues had both Dad and I grinning.

“Daddy,” Rhys squealed, forgetting we were not alone. His cheeks went beetroot red and he hid his face behind one of the puppies he was holding.

Dad took a puff from his pipe, blowing out a slow cloud of sweet smoke. “Don’t go getting all embarrassed, lad. I’m not shocked by what my boys enjoy in their life, and I am not going to be judging anyone.”

I watched as Rhys lowered the puppy, still holding it cradled in his arms “You don’t think I’m weird?”

“I think the world would be a boring place if there wasn’t some weirdness in it, lad. But no, I don’t think you’re weird. You’re the man my son loves. Now, what was it you wanted to ask him, lad, although by the look in your eyes I already know.” Dad gave a smirk, looking at the puppy in Rhys’s arms.

I groaned silently. I’d forgotten Lizzie had had her puppies, and how both Rhys and Mouse had been less that subtle in their desire to have a dog of their own. While I couldn’t control what Mouse wanted—and I seriously doubted there was a man alive who could control my rowdy younger brother when he set his mind to wanting something—Rhys was another story.

“If you are asking me right now, I’m going to say no. We don’t make spur of the moment decisions on something like this. Puppies need space and supervision.” While strictly speaking we had the yard attached to the flat, I needed Rhys to understand that a decision like this needed to be thought about. Rhys pouted and he gave me the saddest look, one that most people with a pulse would collapse at. The blue-eyed look of sorrow was a dangerous weapon but I was not most people. I was Rhys’s Daddy, and I was made of stronger stuff than that.

Fuck, I hoped I was, or we were going to be bringing a pup home with us at the end of the week.

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