Page 118 of Where We Call Home

A smile tugged at my lips as I leaned up to kiss him again, this time lingering just a little longer, savoring the taste of him, the feel of his lips on mine.

“You gave me a second chance,” Rhodes murmured against my mouth. The words were so quiet, so intimate, that I pulled back to meet his gaze, captivated by the vulnerability in his eyes.

“You showed me I’m capable of being loved again,” he continued, his voice steady yet brimming with emotion. “That even with the nagging feelings of not being good enough, of not deserving this, I can still find love, real love. Whether you realize it or not, you were the one person who made me feel again, made me believe again. I was yours before you ever even knew it, Honey.”

His confession left me breathless, my heart swelling with an intensity I could barely contain. In that moment, I knew there was nothing more powerful, more grounding, than the love we shared and I was putting my heart in the hands of the guy my dad would’ve approved of.

“You’re never going to believe what the cafeteria had!” Aspen announced, bursting into the room with her mouth half-full. The entire crew followed her, filling every inch of free space as they piled in.

“Shhh!” Penny scolded from behind, craning her neck to peek over Aspen’s shoulder. “There’s probably a sleeping baby!”

Rhodes and I glanced at each other, then at our boisterous visitors. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Oh my God,” Penny squealed softly, tiptoeing toward the bassinet to get a closer look at Frankie. She acted like it was her first time seeing her, though she’d been in and out of this room plenty over the past few hours.

“Look at you two,” Mac teased, leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed. “Were we interrupting something? I mean, the hospital might not be my first choice for... well, you know. But hey, to each their own.”

I shook my head, laughing as Rhodes let out a scoff, shifting slightly to face the crowd.

“How’s Mama feeling?” Boone asked, coming up to the bed and tapping my foot playfully.

I shrugged, tilting my head to rest it against Rhodes’ shoulder. “Tired. Drained. Used.” I giggled, and the sound set off a ripple of laughter among our friends.

“Well, at least the glow hasn’t gone anywhere,” Aspen chimed in, perching on the edge of the bed. Boone slid his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

“I think that glow’s courtesy of someone else,” Mac muttered under his breath, earning a few snickers from the group.

I took in the scene before me, my heart swelling with gratitude. All my friends, gathered here, showing their love and support—it was almost overwhelming. I was so damn lucky to have them.

For the first time in a long while, I didn’t question where I belonged. It was here, with these people, with Rhodes and Frankie. This was home.

Rhodes

Frankie cooed in the back seat, her little face lighting up as Theo made the funniest, most adorable faces at her. I couldn’t help but smile, watching them through the rearview mirror. There, in that moment, I saw Theo in her element—shining as a mom, a role that suited her so perfectly.

Adjusting to life with an infant was definitely as challenging as everyone had warned me, but it didn’t make it any less beautiful. I loved the quiet mornings, just me and Frankie, while Theo got a few extra hours of sleep. The early sunlight would spill into the room, and it was just us on the couch, the silence wrapping around us like a comforting hug.

This little girl, she had me in a constant tug-of-war with my heart. Every time I looked at her, I felt this overwhelming rush of love—a love so pure, so fierce, that it almost took my breath away. It wasn’t like the romantic love you feel when you find your soulmate. No, this was something else—stronger, important, and it tingled in every fiber of my being. Theo called it "cute aggression," and honestly, she wasn’t wrong.

Today was special. Theo, Frankie, and I were headed to Cassidy Ranch to see the cows. I’d promised Theo I’d take her there someday, and considering I worked here, it probably should have happened sooner. Life with a newborn had a way of making time slip through your fingers. It had only been four months since Frankie was born, and Theo and I had been dating from the very beginning. These past few months had been filled with so much joy, laughter, passion, and tenderness.

I parked the truck in front of the barn and jumped out, opening the backdoor to help Theo out. I moved to the other side to grab our baby girl.

“Alright, show me the cows!” Theo demanded, planting her hands on her hips. “I can’t wait any longer.”

I chuckled, finishing up buckling Frankie into the carrier strapped to my chest.

“Patience, Honey,” I teased, leaning in to press a soft kiss to the top of Theo’s head. Before we arrived, I’d asked Boone to bring some of the cattle over to the smaller grazing area beside the barn, so we wouldn’t have to go inside and spoil the surprise I had planned.

The gift waiting in the barn was something I’d been planning for months. From the moment I first laid eyes on that little girl, I knew I’d do anything in my power to keep her safe, to give her the world.

I reached for Theo’s hand, threading my fingers through hers, and we walked together toward the animals. There was a new calf on the ranch, just a couple of days old, its wobbly legs and unsteady steps enough to melt anyone’s heart—especially Theo’s.

Over the past few months, there had been another big change. Boone’s dad had officially retired, which meant I was stepping into the role of head rancher. Taking on two huge responsibilities at once had been overwhelming at times, though having Theo by my side made everything seem lighter. She made everything easier, and every moment with her felt like a gift.

I was happy. So damn happy. My life was shaping up in ways I hadn’t dared to dream of. I had love in every corner of my world. People who cared for me, who wanted the best for me. But Theo—Theo was the best thing that had ever happened to me. The best chance I’d ever taken.

“Shut up!” Theo squealed, her hand flying to her mouth. “Look at the baby!” She pouted her lip and, without hesitation, let go of my hand to run towards the fence. I couldn’t help but laugh at her excitement.

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