“I will always sing with you, baby. Name the time.” The sky overhead was deep blue, white marshmallow-fluff clouds dotted it. Kids streamed down the sidewalks, played in the park as they walked past. And his children loved music as much as he did.

Not much better than that.

“You know, Mommy’s birthday is in two weeks. I want to give her a song.”

He stopped, kneeling to face his oldest. “That’s a great idea. She’d love it. Do you have a song in mind?”

Maddie nodded. “Patty Griffin’s ‘Let Him Fly.’ It’s her favorite.”

“I’m not sure I know that one. I love what I’ve heard for this birthday present, though.” He stood, continuing to walk back home. “Sing me some.”

Maddie began to sing it. Her voice was already strong. She had the same depth her uncle Ezra had.

And as he listened to the lyrics, Vaughan realized it was a song about a woman loving a man and letting him go. Vain as it might be, he assumed it was about him.

Once they’d gotten home, he was already formulating a plan.

“I have an idea. Kensey, do you want to be part of this birthday present for Mommy?”

“Heck yeah! I can dance. She likes my dancing.”

“Course she does. I think that’s perfect. You two want to go to the ranch? I need to pick up a few things.” Now that his work space was coming together above the garage, he wanted to bring one of his smaller amps and some of his stands over.

He texted Kelly to let her know he was going to take the girls over to see his parents and would be sure they got fed, did their homework and were home by nine. Then he called his parents to make sure they were around and up to company. They both sounded thrilled at the chance to see their granddaughters so he loaded everyone into the car and they headed off to Hood River.

* * *

“DO YOU MISS living here, Daddy?” Maddie asked as they waited for the big iron gate to open leading up the drive to Sweet Hollow Ranch.

“I’ve been gone on tour longer than the time I’ve lived with you guys.” He rolled his window down, loving the smell of the fields, of clean air and green things. “I love this land. It’s part of me, and part of you two, as well. But it’s not too far so when I need to be here to help your uncle Ezra and Poppa work the land, that’s good, too.”

“Mommy should be here, too. Will she now?” Kensey asked as they pulled into his parents’ driveway.

“I’d like that, too, sweetie. It’s complicated adult stuff. But that’s the hope, yes.”

Minnie—the dog that was technically his and the girls’ but who’d defected to his parents—ran out at his father’s side on her teeny little corgi legs.

The girls had plenty of love for Grandpa and the dog and when Sharon came out, they ran over to hug her, as well.

Vaughan hugged his parents, too, and they all headed into the large kitchen and dining room.

“How about pizza? Poppa can go pick it up, along with some chocolate milk,” Sharon asked.

“You two can do your homework while you wait and then it’ll be done so you can hang out with your grandparents and eat without that hanging over you.”

They didn’t argue, but eyes were rolled. He let it pass because heaven knew he and homework didn’t have much of a relationship. They did well in school, which thrilled him. They could eye roll here and there as long as that kept up.

“I need to grab a few things from my place,” Vaughan told them.

“Your brothers are all over at Ezra’s,” his father called out. “Have dinner with them so we don’t have to share Maddie and Kensey with you.”

“You can have the dog, though. She’s antsy and all the walking will tire her out,” his mother said.

Vaughan loved how his mom pretended she wasn’t talking in baby voices to the dog and feeding her peanut butter sandwiches when he wasn’t around. “You want to go see Loopy and the pig?” Vaughan asked Minnie, who danced around, barking excitedly.

“Okay, then.” He bent to kiss the girls. “Behave for your grandparents. I’ll be back in a bit.”

Normally they’d have asked to come along, or at the very least gotten up to walk him out. This time they just nodded and said they’d see him later and that was all the thought they gave him.

It wasn’t until he was standing in his studio at home that he had an epiphany. He was no longer an unusual quantity for his children. They took him for granted the way they did Kelly. Their assumption was that he would be back and get them home by nine. Their assumption was that even though they’d just seen their grandmother the day before, she was still a rarer sight than Vaughan.

“What do you know, Minnie? I think I’ve unlocked a dubious and yet totally normal parenting achievement.”

He loaded his stuff into the car before heading over to Ezra’s to see what was up.

* * *

WHEN VAUGHAN WALKED into his brother’s house, it was to hear his other brothers, Damien and Paddy, giving Ezra shit over a statement that Ezra craved Tuesday and was uncomfortable with it.

Well, a guy turned his back for a month and he had to jump back into everyone’s life at full speed.

Ezra was a control freak. He’d been out of control and his entire life had burned to the ground. Ever since he got out of rehab all those years ago, he’d rebuilt that life with a patient and yet firm hand.

At the same time, Vaughan knew the shame of what he’d been like when he’d been a drug addict still hung around Ezra’s neck like a weight. A weight of his own choosing as the rest of the family had long since forgiven Ezra’s sins.