Page 74 of Love… It's Messy

“Thank you for having me, Mr. Incendio,” I say, clearing my throat.

“Call me Mitch.” He releases me yet keeps his hands on my arms, the same way he did with Luke. A glint touches his eyes, sweet and full of admiration with a twinge of moisture around the circumference.

“Thank you for bringing my granddaughter into the world.”

His comment sends warmth through my chest. “Ainsley is lucky to have a man who is so excited by her existence.”

“Family is everything.” Mitch squeezes my arms, and I see the tear fall down his cheek. “When you’re ready, I’ll be more than happy to play the role of proud grandpa. It’s been a dream of mine.”

I release a shaky breath at the whoosh of emotion his words bear.

Luke places a hand on his dad’s shoulder. “Give the woman some breathing room. She’s had a long car ride, and she has a lot to learn today.”

Mitch looks at Luke with a distressed expression. “You still haven’t told her?”

Luke shakes his head slowly.

The air dissipates from Mitch’s chest as he turns back to me, gives my arms one more reassuring hold, and grimaces lightly. “All right, Jillian. Why don’t you come inside, and I’ll make a pot of tea? Luke didn’t bring you here to meet me. Although I will say, I am quite the good time. Just wait until you hear me play the banjo. I know how to throw it down.”

“In the house, old man. No need to have her running down the mountain yet. Grab the box from the backseat. I brought the goods,” Luke says and then turns to me as his father walks to the backseat of the truck. He motions toward his dad. “Ignore him. He tries to use his humor to lighten the mood.”

“Family trait,” I muse.

“Sadly, one of many.”

My smile falls as I follow Mitch into the house as he carries the box. Luke places a protective hand on the small of my back. I don’t necessarily want it there, yet the heat of his palm feels right.

I want him close.

I want him to turn me around and take me back to Greenwood Village and play tea party with Ainsley and take too many spins on the carousel.

I want him to make this knot in my stomach go away.

Inside the house is bright with sunlight pouring through the back windows. The kitchen is open and airy, overlooking a living room with couches facing the mountain view. Like Luke’s home, this one is filled with pictures on the walls and frames on table surfaces. Memories of a family are scattered throughout, beautifully displayed. Luke’s parents have wonderful taste, as everything is coordinated in happy hues of yellows, peaches, and navy.

At the far wall, lining the living room, is a floor-to-ceiling glass window and sliding door. The view in the front of the home is nothing compared to back here. It’s like the earth has opened up, and I can see the heavens, where the rays of the sun meet the treetops. The sky is a glorious blue, and even the clouds have stayed away just so this scene can exist.

I’m staring at the stunning panorama when Luke takes my hand. I flinch at the touch and then let him grip my hand tight as he nudges his head and guides me through the house toward a bedroom next to the living room. Mitch stays in the kitchen and fills the kettle with water. I stare at Luke’s broad shoulders as he leads me through the doorway.

Luke walks in first, relaxing my hand. I stay at the doorway. A hospital bed faces a window with the same view as the living room. On the side wall is a small dresser with a television, which is currently playing a rerun ofImpractical Jokers. It’s a small room with no closet or bathroom, perhaps not initially meant to be a bedroom.

A woman is sitting on a recliner, laughing and swaying. Her torso rocks as her arms move in the air in graceful yet uncontrolled movements. Her hands are curled in a claw shape, and her jaw is in an unnatural open position, fallen, as if she can’t keep it closed.

As we walk in, she doesn’t seem to notice our entrance.

“Hi, Peyton,” Luke speaks softly to the woman as he approaches.

With light-brown hair, blue eyes, and a chin dimple, she resembles Luke despite being very thin and sallow. She looks older than him, yet from the state of her frizzy yet pulled-back hair and clothes that are more for comfort than style, I can’t tell by how much.

“Loo,” she says with a smile on her face when she looks at him, registering his presence in the room. Her words come out slightly childlike as she moves her body in circular motions.

The two embrace, and he kisses her warmly on the cheek.

“Where you been?”

“I had some things to take care of. Why? You miss me?”

“Yeah. You bring the good food?”