Page 36 of Home for Justice
They slowed, breath catching, hearts pounding. Neither was willing to let go, but both knew they had to. When the kiss finally ended, they didn’t speak. They were both panting, and she felt as though the night air held no oxygen, at least not enough to share. So she leaned her cheek back against his chest and silently promised herself,I’ll just breathe him in.
The coolness of the night air curled around them like a blanket of quiet, wrapping the porch in stillness as their galloping heartbeats slowly eased and their breathing fell into rhythm. It was the kind of silence that didn’t demand to be filled… the kind that felt sacred after something meaningful had passed between two people.
Tyler’s voice was gentle, his eyes never straying from hers. “I know you’ve got a lot going on with working during the day and your dad in the evenings. But I’m here, and I want to help. I can check on him if you need me to and see you at night.”
Her chest tightened from the careful kindness in his words. From the feeling of not being alone in this anymore. “I’d like that,” she said with a nod, hoping her voice didn’t sound too eager or too grateful. But maybe he’d hear the truth underneath anyway.
He bent and pressed one last kiss to her lips, soft and sure, and she had to force herself not to reach for him again when he pulled away. With a grin, he jogged off the porch, turning at the edge of the path to walk backward a few steps.
“Get inside and lock up,” he said, pointing toward the door with a teasing glint in his eye. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
She gave a mock salute and watched until he disappeared into the shadows between the houses. Then she stepped inside and turned the deadbolt.
Her father was just rising from his chair, stretching slightly. “I think I’m ready to turn in,” he said, reaching for his cane.
She flipped off the lights as they moved through the house together, walking up the stairs side by side. He was steady on his feet, and each step he took gave her more relief than the last. She was so proud of him… and so thankful to have this moment.
When they reached the hallway upstairs, he assured her he could manage his bedtime routine. She nodded and stepped into her own bathroom to wash up, change, and breathe for a moment. When she came out, she tapped gently on his door.
Jack was already beneath the covers, his eyes soft in the dim glow of the bedside lamp. He smiled, and she didn’t hesitate to lean over to press a kiss on his cheek.
“I’m so proud of you, Justice,” he murmured into her hair. “I know you’ve had too much on your shoulders these past days, and I’m sorry for that. But I hope you know how much I love you.”
Emotion tugged at her throat, and she held him tightly. “You know I love you, too, Dad. And I’d do anything to help you get better.”
“Well,” he said with a soft chuckle, settling back against his pillows, “being home, sleeping in my own bed, and seeing your beautiful face every day will go a long way in helping.”
She flipped off the light, her heart full. Back in her room, the world had gone quiet again. She crossed to the window and parted the curtain, gazing out over the field between her home and Tyler’s. His house stood peaceful and dark on the ground floor. But upstairs, one light still glowed like a beacon.He’s there, she thought, her heart warming.He’s close.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Expecting another message from Jordy, she almost groaned. But when she saw Tyler’s name on the screen, her frown melted instantly into a grin.
Just wanted to say I miss you already. Sleep tight and let me know if you need anything.
She smiled so wide her cheeks ached, then typed back with fingers still tingling from their kiss.
Thank you for everything. I miss you, too. Talk to you tomorrow.
Slipping beneath the covers, she felt something she hadn’t in a long time… peaceful. Her dad was getting stronger. Jordy would eventually run out of steam. The business was holding steady. And somehow, unexpectedly, she’d met a man who wasn’t just a neighbor. Or a friend.
He saw her. He showed up. And tonight, he kissed her like she mattered. With a soft smile still lingering on her lips, Justice closed her eyes and drifted into dreams that were as tender, slow, and sweet as the man who had sparked them.
16
For the next few days, Tyler fell into a rhythm that felt oddly natural. The kind of days that filled the hours without noise but left room for thought. He liked being busy, but it was the sense of purpose that steadied him. He missed Gramps's presence, but the house gave him something to work on that didn’t come with a trigger or a target.
He hit the hardware store early in the week, buying paint, supplies, two new toilets, and enough lumber and hardware to take care of every fix-it note Gramps had made since Tyler’s last visit years ago and never quite finished. The old man had tools tucked away in both the garage and shed, each well-oiled and well-used. Tyler had smiled the first time he opened the drawer with the screwdrivers, seeing how Gramps kept his tools organized. A pang of grief hit him in the chest more than he expected.
He began ticking off items on his list in the order he deemed most important. First up was the railing along the staircase. It wobbled just enough to be dangerous, and Tyler swallowed hard at the thought of Gramps possibly leaning on it too hard and falling. He reinforced it, then tightened loose doorknobsand oiled creaky hinges. Nothing glamorous, but satisfying nonetheless.
The next day, he painted the living room a pale dove gray. The brushstrokes felt meditative, and by the time he finished, the space looked lighter. As much as he loved the house his grandparents lived in, it was now starting to take shape as a place he could call home. He stood in the doorway for a long moment after, arms folded across his chest, just looking. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
The day after that, he wrestled two new toilets into place, grunting and muttering the entire time. Cursing under his breath when the wax ring didn’t sit right the first time. He stopped the kitchen sink from dripping, finally silencing the slow, maddening tap that had driven him crazy for days. Small victories, but worthwhile, nonetheless.
Each afternoon, when the sun arced high and the work started to ache in his shoulders, he walked across the yard to check on Jack.
The first time, Jack had been surprised to see him but had made his pleasure known with a nod that carried more meaning than most people’s long-winded welcomes.
That night, Tyler stayed for dinner. It was just him, Jack, and Justice around the kitchen table. Conversation came easily. They’d laughed, trading small stories, and Tyler found himself leaning back in his chair, full in more ways than one.
