Page 79 of The Homecoming

Brandon and the golf cart sat right in front of the porch steps. He smiled at her in his fedora, aviator sunglasses, scarf, and black gloves. “What’d ya think?”

“That you’re a dork.” She smiled when he handed her a matching pair of sunglasses and a scarf. She put on her ensemble, wrapping the scarf around her head like a movie starlet while he turned the golf cart around and headed toward the gate to Huntington Farms.

“How’s the domestic life?”

“It’s only been four days,” she said. “But, it seems to be going well.”

He slowed the cart and pressed the button on the gate remote. “You still worried he might be like Jason?”

She shook her head. “So far, he’s pretty much exactly like he was before he left. He’s had none of the symptoms I noticed with Jason, and I couldn’t find any reason not to leave Danny with him. Hell, this morning he ran five miles, came home, and showered before I even woke up.”

Brandon nodded. “That’s good, you can finally relax.”

“I don’t know about that… I am back to work now.”

“Speaking of work, ya know, being a wedding venue and all… Are we going to need to block off a date for your wedding?”

Autumn coughed. “Whoa, slow down. It’s been four days. We haven’t gotten that far.”

“That far?” he asked, pointing at her. “What are you talking about? He asked you last year, don’t think I’ve forgotten that.”

“Yeah, and after the way I acted, he’s probably never asking again.”

“You’re probably right.”

Autumn was momentarily stunned by Brandon’s out of the ordinary pessimistic tone. They pulled up to the back of the farmhouse and met Ben, who came up the path from the barn. “Well, aren’t you two just freaking adorable,” he quipped.

Autumn and Brandon shot him two big, cheesy grins. “Thank you,dahling,” Autumn replied.

Ben rolled his eyes. “Alright, guys, we have a ten o’clock coming in soon to tour for a possible wedding next July.”

Brandon grinned at her. “Ready?”

She nodded. “Let’s do this.”

***

That afternoon, Brandon dropped her off at the front door of the cabin. Inside, it was far too quiet, despite the bomb of toys that had been detonated across the cabin and the sink of dirty dishes. She found Daniel sprawled on the floor between the coffee table and the fireplace. He looked up at her.

“So, how’d it go today?”

He moaned.

“Is Danny still napping?” She looked around.

“No, not still, just napping.”

“Having trouble getting him to nap?” She sat on the couch and kicked off her heels.

“I have jumped out of an airplane under enemy fire,” he began, “I have repelled straight down cliff faces, I have crawled through the muck of a jungle floor with wild animals and guerilla fighters hunting me. I can even interrogate answers out the most hardened terrorist. I, however, cannot get that child to nap for shit.”

Autumn laughed.

“It’s not funny.” Dan sat up and leaned his elbows on the coffee table. “I have a serious question.” He paused. “What the hell is an Elmo and why does it have a world?”

That made her laugh even harder.

“Why are you laughing?”

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