Page 47 of Operation: Unify

“What do you know? What are your strengths?”

“I’m good at coding and problem solving. My biggest strength though, is that I’m willing to learn. I don’t know the first thing about horses, but if you want me to learn something, I will.”

“I like your attitude.” Honestly, that was practically priceless. Finding someone willing to do a job from the start was a rare commodity. “I don’t know yet what we’ll find for you to do, but I know you help when you feel it’s important and that’s exactly the kind of people I want at Wayside.”

“Great. Are you leaving today?” Randy’s deadpan confused him for a minute, but he realized Randy probably didn’t allow himself to get excited. Having the father he did probably meant he’d been disappointed in the past and no longer got his hopes up.

“Yes, this afternoon. We’ll have to caravan because Lacy has her car here and I’ve got my pickup.”

“And I’ve got my car, too. Though I’m going to start filling it soon. I don’t have much, but I don’t plan to come back.”

“You’re an adult. It’s your choice where you want to live. I’ll give you a call when we’re ready to pick up Melinda.”

“Sounds good. Talk to you soon.” Randy hung up.

“How is he?” Lacy asked from the doorway.

He hadn’t heard her slide the door open. “Good. He’s coming with us.”

She nodded with a soft smile. “I’m happy.”

The word happy made him think of Christmas. “Do you realize it will be Christmas Eve in three days?” The last 48 hours had been so full, it felt like the holiday had come and gone already.

She looked at her watch. “Wow, I totally lost track of days, times, everything. When we get back, the tree will be up, and Victoria will be making her famous pudding.”

He grinned. That chocolate desert was fantastic Christmas Eve night, but she always took whatever was left and froze it into a graham cracker crust with whipped topping, then froze it as a pie. That might be even better. “Can’t wait.”

She hid a yawn behind the back of her hand. “I think it will take me three days to catch up on sleep. Hopefully, I’ll be able to concentrate on the drive.”

He’d keep an eye on her. “I plan to keep in a line all the way back. You’ll be in the middle. Just follow me and you’ll be fine.”

She grinned and turned around, leaning against the railing. “I’m sure Melinda will be tired, so I’ll turn on my music and focus the whole ride.”

“What will you focus on?” He was curious what kept her interest when she wanted to stay awake.

“Lots of things, but mostly the new year. I’ve got a few things I want to see happen and they’ll take work.”

He stood and came up to her. “Like?”

Her face tipped up to look him in the eye. “Like figuring out what you and I might look like if we becameweagain.”

“I hoped that was on your resolution list. I promise, this will be one that we don’t give up on by the end of January.”

“I don’t know . . . I’m pretty good at giving up on all things that I vow to do, even if they’re good for me.” She grinned.

“Are you saying I’m good for you?” He slipped his hands behind her back.

“That remains to be seen, but I think there’s a pretty good chance.”

He leaned in closer, intending to whisper in her ear when she leaned in and kissed him, taking him by surprise. He gripped the railing with one hand and pulled her close with the other. Having her there, with him, felt perfect. He hadn’t felt this whole or this alive in years. She really was his better half, and it had been missing for too long.

She pulled back and put her finger to his lips. “We’ll have to save that for later.”

He playfully bit her finger. “Maybe I don’t want to wait. We don’t have to check out for an hour.”

Lacy rested her hands against his chest. She had to feel his heart racing like he’d just run a marathon, but her voice remained calm, soothing. “I know we’ve been married before, but we aren’t now. I want our first time together again to be as special as it was the first time. So . . .”

She didn’t need to finish explaining to him what she wanted. He agreed with his mind and soul, but his heart was having a temper tantrum. This wasn’t completely new territory. Then again, it was in some ways. “I agree.” He kissed her forehead.

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