Swanson Farms

Chapter 15

On Monday I drove myself into town to the bakery, Aunt Julia and Uncle Hank were going to watch Bailey today, they were going with Mom and Dad to Mapleville.

Seth had spent the last two weeks at my house and had barely gone home. Not that he complained but part of me wondered if he missed his family at all. Hannah came in a few minutes late and looked at me excitedly,

"Charlie guess what?!"

I grinned, looking over at her, "What?"

"Adam came home last night!"

"Is he home for good?" I asked, and she nodded,

"He's in a cast... but he's done. He finished his tour and resigned."

"Hannah that amazing!" She grinned and wiped her eyes,

"I didn't think he'd make it home... Oh he's two months earlier than I thought and... I haven't been this happy since high school." I smiled, remembering when Simon was born. Adam's family was moving out of the town and said if he stayed with Hannah and the baby they would disown him, and he stayed with Hannah, moving in with her family.

"Are you still looking for somewhere temporarily?" I asked and she nodded,

"The house won't be ready for another six months..." Early on last year she and Adam decided to have a house built on the property they owned in town, and they were waiting for Adam to come home to start the process.

"Well, the bank offered me a good price on the apartment upstairs... If you want we could split the cost."

"Charlie... I..." She sniffled and hugged me tightly,

"I don't know what I would do without you," She said softly and I kissed her head.

The bell rang and Adam walked in the door holding Simon's hand tightly. He was using a cane and had his foot in an air cast and his knee had an immobilizer on it. But apart from the injuries he looked extremely happy and when he saw he he grinned and I went around to hug him tightly,

"Hey Charlie," He said, before pulling away, "You take care of my girl for me?"

"You bet Adam. I'm glad that you're home. If you two need anything don't be afraid to ask me, okay?"

He nods and Hannah smiled at me, "Well Adam... Charlie offered us a deal for the apartment upstairs."

"Seriously?"

"If you two would like to stay there, I was thinking we could split it half and half."

Adam nodded, "We'll need to talk to the bank, but I really appreciate the offer Charlie. The house is going to take forever to complete."

I smiled, "It's no issue guys."

"So what have you been up to? Any new men in your life?"

"Actually yes," I said, starting to get my phone out, "His name is Seth-"

"Seth Hunt?" He asked, and I nodded. Adam was two years older than Hannah and I, and that made him the same age as Seth,

"I went to school with Seth until he moved away. He was a pretty cool guy. I uh, broke the window one time at school and he took the blame for me, he knew that Dad was a drunk and if the school called him he'd beat me. God I'd love to catch up with the guy."

I smiled and nodded, we chatted briefly before Hannah and I went back to work and Adam sat with Simon and waited to try some of the baked goods we made.

Half way through my shift-around lunch time- Seth came in holding a cooler. He winked at me and I noticed he was wearing the flannel that I liked the best on him,

"Well now, what are we all dressed up for?" I asked, coming out from behind the counter to give him a kiss. He chuckled and shrugged,

"Thought I could at least look nice for my girl, you know?" I giggled and he kissed my head,

"Are you able to take a lunch break?"

I glanced at Hannah and she nodded, standing up from where she was sitting with Adam and Simon. Seth grinned when he made eye contact with Adam,

"Holy shit man it's been a long time." He said, going over to shake Adam's hand.

Adam laughed and clapped his shoulder,

"It has been. You doing alright?" Seth nodded,

"Yeah, got me a steady job and a steady family," I can't lie, my heart skipped a couple of beats when he said family, "How about you? How're you feeling?"

Adam shrugged, "I've been better, but I'm home and I'm alive."

Seth nodded and smiled, and Adam smiled, "We'll I'll let you get back to your lunch man. It was great to see you, we'll have to catch up some time."

I looked at Hannah and Seth, smiling, "Why don't you guys come over tonight? Jackie and Zach are coming over for dinner, why don't we make it a dinner party?" Hannah smiled,

"Oh Charlie we would love that. Do you want us to bring anything?"

"Well Jackie is going to be bringing some food to help out with dinner, if you like you could bring some dessert." Hannah nodded,

"Perfect." She smiled and went back to work and Adam and Simon said goodbye before leaving. Seth and I grinned and we started to eat, holding each other's hand.

"When was the last time you talked to your Mom or Grandparents?"

Seth shrugged, "Maybe a month and a half ago..."

"Don't you miss them?"

"Charlie don't take this the wrong way, but being with you has been a good break from home, and I don't want it to end."

"Seth seeing me doesn't mean you should stop seeing your family."

"You are my family Charlie. Blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb."

I sighed, "Seth your mother loves you. She really does."

"Charlie can we drop the subject?"

I sighed and finished eating, "Fine..."

"Look, when I'm with you I think about our future, I think about us staying together forever. When I'm around my Mother and Grandparents, I don't see myself anywhere close to here in a few months. You are my everything and I just want some time with you and Bails before I have to see them again." I nodded and leaned over the table to give him a quick kiss.