Page 27 of Wild For You

I dropped to one knee before her, the act so timeless, so full of intention. A small velvet box appeared in my hand, its presence both a surprise and the most natural thing in the world. “Josie Keller,” I began. “Will you make me the happiest man in Lawson Ridge?" I opened the box to reveal a ring, sunlightwinking off the diamond, setting it ablaze with promises of forever. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” She reached toward me, a lifeline thrown across the distance of our separate lives, ready to intertwine and become one.

Josie's nod turned into a dip forward, her body acting of its own volition. The connection was magnetic, pulling us into an orbit around each other.

Around us, the park thrummed with life—the chirping of birds crescendoing as if to celebrate along with the humans, the rustle of leaves like soft applause. And there, beneath the old oak tree where we had shared so many silent moments, we found a new beginning, a silent vow made amidst the clamor of a world that, for once, was entirely on our side.

20

Josie

Three months later…

“Michael's been on my mind lately,” Nico began. He leaned forward, elbows resting on the scarred wooden table between us. “I think we've been too hard on him.”

My hand found its way to the delicate silver chain around my neck, fiddling with it as she contemplated his words. I drew in a deep breath, letting the scent of old books and lemon polish fill my senses. “I know he's made mistakes, Nico, big ones... but I can't shake the feeling that we're missing something about his struggle.”

“Exactly.” Nico nodded, his jaw setting. “I’ve seen that lost look in his eyes. It's the same one I had when Haley's mom left us. We need to remember that.”

Our chairs scraped against the checked linoleum floor as we both shifted, our movements mirroring each other's anxiety and resolve. I knew this town - with its rolling fields and tight-knit community - could be a place of second chances.

“Let's talk to him,” I suggested. “Not to lecture, but to really listen. To understand.”

Nico's nod was almost imperceptible, but it was there. “I’ll reach out to him. Invite him over for dinner. Just the three of us.”

“Good idea,” I agreed, the corners of my lips curving upward in a small smile. I admired Nico's strength, how he balanced his protective nature with such a caring heart.

Two days later, the scent of simmering marinara wafted through Nico's kitchen, a comforting blanket that wrapped around my senses as I perched on a barstool by the island. The room glowed with the warmth of hanging copper pots and the earthy hues of reclaimed wood cabinets. Across from me, Michael sat rigid, his hands clasped tightly around a mug of coffee, its steam long since surrendered to the quiet tension in the air.

“We've seen you struggling, and we can't pretend anymore that it's not affecting Chase.”

Michael's jaw clenched, a silent battle raging behind his piercing blue eyes.

“Chase needs you,” I said. “He needs the father I know you can be. But it means stepping onto a new path... making changes that might seem impossible now.”

A clatter echoed as Nico stirred the sauce, the spoon tapping a rhythm of possibilities against the pot. “I made those changes for Haley,” he added, turning back to face his brother. “It wasn't easy, but look at us now. She’s thriving, and so am I.” His broad shoulders squared, the embodiment of the strength that carried him forward.

I watched as something within Michael seemed to fracture, his defensive walls trembling under the weight. I imagined the thoughts swirling in his head, wild and unruly like autumn leaves caught in a gust of wind.

“Guys, I…” Michael's voice cracked, the beginning of surrender. He looked down at his own reflection in the black surface of his coffee, a man on the precipice of change.

“Hey, we're here for you,” I interjected, my tone imbued with encouragement. My heart expanded, willing to share its boundless capacity for hope. “You don't have to do this alone.”

“Neither of us wants to see you fail, Michael,” Nico said, moving closer. His hand rested briefly on his brother's shoulder. “We want you to be part of our lives, part of this family.”

“Healthy, happy... that's all we're asking for,” I chimed in.

“Okay,” Michael whispered,. “Okay.”

And just like that, the kitchen felt brighter, the night less foreboding. The promise of redemption hung in the air, as fragile and precious as the scent of basil nestled among tomatoes on the vine.

It only took one day for Josie to rally up a job for him. Old Man Jenkins offered him a job at his store.

In the days that followed, the change in Michael was palpable. Each small victory, each step forward was celebrated.

“Look at him,” Nico whispered one afternoon as they watched Michael and Chase throw a baseball around in the backyard. The ball arched high before landing snugly in Chase's glove.

“His laughter... I haven't heard it in years,” Nico's words were thick, his protective demeanor softening as Haley clapped her hands joyously beside them.

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