Until Arden by Skye Callahan & Boom Factory Publishing

Author:Skye Callahan & Boom Factory Publishing [Callahan, Skye]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boom Factory Publishing, LLC
Published: 2022-05-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Arden

I put Holden down near the coffee table where it looks like he’s been drawing, but he grabs my hand and leads me to a pair of sliding glass doors in the kitchen. Beyond the yard, which is surrounded by a tall wooden fence, I see a dense line of trees standing out against the pink evening horizon.

Holden taps on the window and a medium-sized brown and white dog with floppy ears runs up to greet him.

“Timber,” Holden squeals, kneeling down and moving his hand across the window so Timber follows. Judging by the smudges across the glass, this isn’t the first time he’s played this game today.

Timber’s tail wags, and she barks and paws at the window.

“Can we play?” Holden asks.

“Let’s wait for Dash, okay?” I run my fingers through his soft curls and nudge him back toward the living room. I really need to get off my aching feet.

Structurally, Dash's house has a classic farmhouse feel, but it looks as if everything has been modernized recently. I wonder if he's done the work himself or if he purchased it this way, but it's a mix of rustic and modern that perfectly fits him.

When Dash returns, his expression is somber as if he’s been hollowed out.

Holden jumps to his feet, and my voice catches in my throat while I watch his arms flail outward, knocking over the small glass on the table.

“Uh, oh.” Holden’s lower lip quivers as he watches the water spill across his drawings.

“It’s okay, buddy.” Dash scoops Holden up, wincing as he straightens. “Help me clean it up?”

Holden nods, and Dash grabs a few paper towels before sitting Holden down next to the coffee table. Once the water is cleaned up, Holden disposes of the towels and his wet paper, then gives Dash a fist bump. “Can we play with Timber now?”

Dash looks to me and I nod, then he ruffles Holden’s hair. “I guess you’ve waited long enough.”

No matter what else is going on, Dash’s voice is always soothing when he speaks to my son, and I feel myself sinking deeper into his hold.

Holden takes Dash’s hand, and we all head through the sliding glass doors to the back porch. After introductions, Holden and Timber take to the open yard, playing together like old friends. Over the next few minutes, I watch as Dash and Holden take turns throwing a red ball. Each time, Timber proudly carries it back and drops it at their feet.

Dash brushes a hand over his face before returning to the porch and leaning against the railing next to me.

“Are you okay?”

He nods, but his eyes are still cloudy.

“Is that why you keep wincing?”

“It’s nothing major. I pulled a muscle at work. I was actually about to leave when you called.” He twists his back slightly, and I watch the discomfort on his face.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

He shrugs and looks away. “You and Holden needed a hand. I wasn’t going to say no.”

His back isn’t the only thing bothering

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