Page 85 of Take Me Home

“That’s really beautiful, Darcy. I’m honored to be part of home for you. I know how much this place means to you.” He paused, seemingly steeling himself. “That makes me a little less scared to say what I’m about to say.”

I squeezed his hand to encourage him. “You’re safe with me.”

His face took on a series of emotions: worrying his lip, smiling, giving a little chuckle. He was nervous.

“So I’m not really religious. I mean, my parents raised us Presbyterian and we went to church sometimes, but especially with my dad dying when I was so young, it was never a big thing for me. But there’s this part of me that wants to believe that my dad’s pulling the strings behind the scenes somewhere. I was bumming around trying to figure out where I was going to work this summer, and like magic, Eli texted me about this job. And I felt this weird push to take it, even though I probably could make more money doing construction or moving or something. I feel like that little voice pushing me here was my dad, like he’s out there somewhere knowing what I need,” Jake said, looking at me to see if I thought he was crazy. I didn’t think that at all. I gave him a warm smile to push him on.

“And then little stuff that happened with you would feel like he was behind it. Sometimes I’d be working myself into a shitty mood, and you’d show up just in time and I couldn’t be mad. And that’s especially true when we kissed in the hay loft. I was being a brat and I think he literally shoved us together. I knew I needed you, but I wasn’t going to do anything about it except be miserable. So, forced physical contact ended up being the thing to push us along.”

“I love that. I’m glad you still feel your dad in your life. I’m sure he’s here,” I said.

Jake took another shaky inhale.

“Look, life is short, so I’m just going to tell you. I’m in love with you, Darcy. I’ve been falling for you for a while. I honestly didn’t think I’d tell you today, but it just feels right. It’s okay if you don’t feel the same or aren’t ready to say it. Every time we’re together, I learn something new about you that makes me fall harder. I think you’re so strong, and smart, and kind, and funny.

“At first, I told myself I was just horny. You’re hot and we’re together all the time because we have to be. Then I got to know you and I realized it’s much deeper than that. That day I took care of you, I had butterflies in my stomach the whole time. I was worried about you, but I was so happy to be with you. When you had me get in bed with you, my heart just fell apart. I was wrecked. Then at the Fourth party, it was everything I could do not to kiss you. Meeting your family and seeing you in your element like that made me so happy. I love watching you blossom.”

He stroked my cheek with his finger and went on. “When you cried after Country Roads, I swore to myself I never wanted another of your tears to fall without me there to catch it. I want it all with you, the hard stuff and the fun stuff. I know both of our lives are changing, but I’m hoping we can figure out a way to go through those changes together.”

My lower lip was wobbly. I sniffed, snot preceding the tears that built in my eyes. As a tear fell, Jake put up his finger to catch it. “I get to practice now,” he said with a smile. “So yeah. I love you, Darcy.”

I pulled his face to mine, overjoyed, ecstatic, my heart overflowing. Jake loved me. He loved me with all my flaws and scars. He loved me in this pure, positive, sure-as-the-sun-shines kind of way.

And I loved him, too. So I told him.

“I’m in love with you, too, Jake. Maybe I won’t always understand why you love me, but I know I love you. I dream about the way you smell, that dimple on your right cheek, and the way you put your hands on me. Pretty sure I have every touch from you cataloged. And don’t think I missed that you let me help you with your burned hand when you knew what to do, Mr. Paramedic,” I laughed.

“I liked your touch,” he said, smiling. “And I really liked your touch today in bed. I think we’re pretty damn good for each other.”

I laughed. “There’s no denying that we have good chemistry. I remember feeling electricity when we touched the same flashlight that first night.”

“Me, too. That’s part of my daily Darcy highlight reel,” he grinned, then studied me. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you, too.”

“Feels really nice to say it,” he said.

We sat, kissing slowly for a while. I rested my head on his shoulder when we were done. We rocked quietly on the swing, wrapped up in the old pink quilt together sipping our whiskey. We went through the final chores for the day at the farm. As we left the stable, Jake stopped me, pulling me into his arms.

“Ready to go home, Bambi?” He had a twinkle in his eye, and I knew what he meant.

I nodded. “Take me home.”

EPILOGUE: JAKE

TWO-ISH YEARS LATER

I’ve never been so happy to be someone’s home.

The flood waters eventually receded at the farm, and we got everything restored to its previous state. Darcy’s family all showed up with chainsaws to help break up the logs and debris that floated down the creek. I’ll admit, I’ve never known a family with such a high chainsaw-to-person ratio. It was impressive. As soon as we have a garage, I will be buying a chainsaw. I can’t be the only one at family gatherings without a chainsaw to my name.

Darcy and I spent every second we could together for the rest of the summer, only apart when we had to work on writing or robots, respectively. My fruit picker ended up being a great success, and I got my patent approved on it just a few months ago. Darcy made me a ridiculous-looking robot cake to celebrate. I fucking love her.

Caleb’s doing great as a plumber, working hours of his choosing and still searching for the woman of his dreams. Becca bought a plot of land and started her own farm in Putnam County. She has an obscene number of chickens and makes a killing on those different colored eggs that hipsters pay extra for at farmer’s markets. She also runs an Airbnb from the cool guest house she built on her property. She’s hoping to host weddings out there by next year. Darcy and I stayed close to both of them. I guess that summer at the peach farm was pretty special for all of us.

Uncle Bill healed well from his surgeries, but Darcy stayed on through the fall at the farm. She moved out to my trailer because she said it smelled like me, and it gave us privacy when I stayed over. We spent most of the week apart, which sucked, but we were both busy. She spent weekends with me in Huntington. I came out every Wednesday after Little League fall ball practice to spend the night with her, and I cherished those nights. She helped me coach on the weekends because, despite the shit I give her, she does know baseball pretty well.

We had our first big fight in September, the result of an agonizing discussion over where we should live when I graduated. Darcy didn’t want to be too far from her family, and by too far, she meant no more than an hour away. I figured we could move anywhere within West Virginia and that was close enough for her.As long as we’re together, aren’t we home?I’d asked. That went over like a lead balloon.

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