Family Ties

Beginning

Harry's POV

"Dad!" Hank yelled as he came running over to me, his back pack still slung over his shoulder from his day at school while Hannah and Maci trailed behind him. "What are you doing?"

"I'm just installing the porch swing, buddy. How was school?" I asked as I stood up and ruffled his hair.

I kissed Hannah hello as her and Mace approached us, looking around at the various pieces of wood I had splayed over the front porch. Things had been relatively quiet at the office for a Friday afternoon, so I decided to head home and try to finish up some of the random things we still needed to do around the house.

"Did you have a good day, Monkey?" I asked Mace as she looked up at me and smiled, nodding her head as I picked her up.

"Mama and I are going to the movies!" She said excitedly, and I suddenly remembered Hannah had planned a little girls date for them.

"Well that sounds like fun." I smiled before I kissed her cheek and put her down.

"You should go change out of your school clothes, bub. We gotta leave soon." Hannah said before she scurried off into the house and Han followed after her.

"Well I guess it's just us tonight then, little man." I said as I looked over at Hank. "What do you wanna do?"

"Can I help you build the swing?" He asked, looking up at me with a hopeful look in his eye.

"Of course. Then maybe we can get some stuff done around here before we order pizza. Sound good?"

"Yeah!" He said excitedly before he crouched down in front of some of the pieces I'd laid out.

I didn't have a design mapped out, I'd done most of it from the idea in my head, so I essentially was just doing it as I went. Hank watched carefully as I organized all the pieces, measuring the area I planned to put it and making sure we put enough supports in so it could hold the weight, hanging on my every word as I explained it like it was the most fascinating thing he'd ever heard.

I grabbed his little tool set from my truck, the one I'd gotten him for his birthday with a few little screwdrivers and a small drill that he might be able to use, just as the girls emerged from the house looking ready to go.

"Well don't you two look pretty all dolled up." I smiled as I kissed Hannah on the cheek. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah." Mace smiled.

"What are you two gonna do?" Han asked as she looked up at me.

"Just gonna get some stuff done around here. You know, man stuff." I smiled.

"Ah yes." She chuckled as she bent down and kissed Hank on the forehead. "Well you two have fun, stay out of trouble."

"Love you." Hank smiled as he shot them a little wave.

We stood on the porch as they hopped into the car and pulled away, waving them off before I looked back down at Hank and he grinned up at me.

"Okay, buddy. Let's grab some drinks and get to work." I smiled as I scooped him up.

I took him inside, grabbing myself a beer from the fridge and Hank a ginger ale, before we threw on some hoodies and headed back outside. It was still only February, so it could get cold as the sun went down and I figured it would take us a little longer to finish since I'd be explaining things along the way.

We spent the next hour or so slowly putting the swing together as I taught Hank how to use his drill, showing him how the pieces fit together and why we put the screws in certain places to make sure it was done properly. He would smile up at me proudly every time he put one in, making sure I saw that he'd done it, and I couldn't help but feel that warmth in my chest at the sight of him so pleased with himself.