The second thing was how much he enjoyed working with his hands. When his dad had actually worked, he’d done carpentry. The work had come naturally to Holden as well, but he’d hated it at the time, not wanting that connection to a man he’d despised. He’d stopped doing anything like that when he became a pilot, and…well, he hadn’t thought he’d missed it, but he had. He liked this, but he was a stubborn motherfucker and didn’t like liking it.
Things were going well with Sean. Holden had even gotten him to come to the barn and work with him a couple of times, trying to teach him the craft. The first time, Holden had almost had to drag him, but the second he’d agreed right away, and the third he’d come out to help on his own, claiming boredom. Holden was pretty sure it was more about an interest he didn’t want to admit to having.
While Monroe invited them to eat and hang out with him and his family fairly regularly, Holden always said no. It felt too…intimate? Or maybe he was just an asshole; he couldn’t say. But he also knew Sean was unsure about spending time with Wyatt, and his nephew’s comfort was the most important thing.
It was a Friday evening. He was almost finished with the inside of the barn, and he’d locked Monroe out of it, not letting him see. Holden was sitting on the porch while Marilee and Sean got ready so the three of them could go out, and he decided to call Vince, since they hadn’t spoken in a couple of days.
“Hey, you,” his boyfriend answered. “Sorry I didn’t call you back the other day. Things have been busy.”
“No worries.” Holden put his feet up on the porch railing and leaned back in the chair. “I just thought I’d say hi before we head out for movies with goats.”
“Excuse me, what?” Vince asked, making Holden laugh.
“Yeah, apparently it’s a thing, and Marilee wants to do it. She’s dragging Sean and me along. She’s never gone the whole time she’s lived here, so I guess I can handle it for a night, even if it is weird as hell. Monroe’s family runs it from their farm.” When he and Vince spoke, Holden always updated him on the barn and the work he was doing for Monroe.
“Sounds like he has his hand in a bit of everything there.”
“He does. He’s not a dick, though, not one of those guys who throw their weight around.”
“I didn’t figure he was if you spend so much time with him. You’re not good with that shit.”
No, no he wasn’t. “Anyway, what are you up to this weekend?”
“I’m going to a dinner party tonight—Chris and I are going.” Chris was a friend of theirs they hung out with sometimes. “It’s at Gregory and Liam’s.”
“Liam’s not jealous of you anymore, then?” Holden chuckled. Gregory was Vince’s ex-boyfriend. They’d broken up a few months before Holden and Vince started seeing each other, and Gregory’s current partner, Liam, didn’t like Vince around Gregory. He was a jealous little thing, but considering Gregory had cheated on Vince with Liam, Holden didn’t think he was the one who had the right to feel that way.
“I guess not,” Vince replied. “Tell me more about what you’re doing, though. It sounds like things are going well.”
They chatted for a while. Holden always enjoyed talking with Vince. It was one of the reasons their relationship had lasted so long. When he heard Marilee shout, “You ready, Sean?” Holden stood.
“I think we’re about to head out, so I should go. I’ll talk to you in a few days.”
“Okay. Have fun with your goats!”
Holden rolled his eyes. “Have fun at dinner.”
They hung up just as Marilee came out, a bag over her shoulder. “I can’t wait!”
“Mom…it’s movies with goats running all around. What if they poop by us?”
“Then there will be poop in the grass. Stop stealing my fun.”
Holden squeezed Sean’s shoulder. “We get to choose the next family outing.”
“I agree with Uncle Holden.”
“Fine. Gang up on me. It’s gonna be fun. I know it.”
Holden wasn’t so sure, but he wanted Marilee to have fun. The look Sean sent his way told him his nephew felt the same.
He grabbed the folding chairs, which were stuffed in bags, then looked over and saw that Monroe’s truck was gone. Holden wondered where he was. It was seven, and he hadn’t noticed him come home from work—not that he was watching. He just hadn’t seen him, so he could have come and gone or…or Holden could be thinking way too much about Monroe Covington.
They took Holden’s car, Marilee giving him directions.
Monroe’s family’s farm looked huge, and a line of cars waited to get into the driveway, even though the movie didn’t start until eight thirty. “Damn, you weren’t joking about this being popular. People really love goats that much?”
“They’re so cute! I want a miniature one…or a baby. I have to keep myself from playing with Roe’s goats all the time.”
“He wouldn’t mind,” Holden told her. “Just ask him. He’s a good guy. He’d probably be thrilled he could do something nice like that.”
When he glanced over, he noticed Marilee giving him a strange look, her forehead slightly wrinkled. “Wow…you know him that well already, huh?”
“No better than you do. You know he wouldn’t care. You just don’t want to seem like you’re a bother, and it wouldn’t be.”
“I hate that you read me so well.” She stuck her tongue out at him playfully, while he tried to work through why he felt so comfortable speaking for Monroe. Hell, Marilee technically knew him better than Holden, but…that didn’t feel right. She might have more time on Holden, but he and Monroe shared different kinds of conversations than she did with him.
When it was their turn, Holden pulled into the rocky driveway, beneath the rustic, wooden sign that said: COVINGTON ACRE FARMS. There was a field for parking, and then they had to walk across the grass toward the pasture where they were screening the movies. There was definitely goat poop everywhere.
“They really go all out,” Holden said after Marilee gave their tickets to the gentleman taking them. He could see the large movie screen ahead of them. People were sitting in folding camping chairs or lying on blankets—which he didn’t figure was a good idea because of the previous discussion. There was also a food truck, a small concession stand, and then he noticed the ice cream stand that said: SUNDAE’S BEST ON THE ROAD. It was clearly portable, something Deacon must have driven in, and there was already a line for his famous ice cream.
“They do go all out,” Marilee said happily, “and I love that it’s such a family effort. Even though Roe has his own career, he still helps out on the farm. His brothers and sister and their spouses all have a job, and even the kids help. Outside of that, from what I’ve heard, it’s all longtime Briar County residents that work for Covington Acres. They’re big on community.”
Holden didn’t respond because he wasn’t sure what to say. To be honest, he was a little overwhelmed by it all.
“We should find a place to sit before we do anything,” Marilee said.