All this had hit him when it happened, Lexie making his house their home, never knowing when he walked in what would be added, what she’d give him next but it hit him differently this time with his brother there, seeing through Julius’s eyes his house, his life, the flowered sheets he’d sleep on in the guest room.

His wife.

And when it hit him then, something settled in Walker. Settled deep. Something weighty but not heavy. Something warm. Something welcome.

This was on his mind as he took a swallow of his drink, hit the bottom of the stairs and turned to see Lexie at the stove, Julius at a stool at the island, both of them talking with relaxed faces, Julius already at home because Lexie made him feel that way. A huge man. A huge black man. A huge, black ex-con, at home, relaxed, welcome because Lexie made him feel that way.

Her eyes came to him then her head turned to him.

“Go, commune with your brother.” She jerked her head to the front deck. “I’ll finish this and we’ll eat at the outside table.”

“You kickin’ me out, baby doll?” Julius asked and Lexie twisted to grin at him.

“I’m giving you time with Ty so you can talk about how great my ass is,” she returned, Julius chuckled and Walker moved to his wife.

He bent to kiss her hair and muttered, “Legs, Lex, your ass is fine but you got f**kin’ great legs. So long, wrap around my back twice.”

She tipped her head way back and caught his eyes then leaned around him so she could roll hers at Julius.

His friend chuckled again.

Walker turned away from his woman and looked to Julius. Then he motioned outside with his head before he moved that way, Julius shifting off the stool and following.

They settled at the railing beside one of Lexie’s flourishing pots of flowers.

“Good to see you, brother,” Walker whispered.

“Good to be seen,” Julius whispered back.

“All good?” Walker asked.

“Yeah. My bitches, though, all over me. I’m here to get a break. Got out, all three of them fell on my dick. They nearly killed me.”

This was bullshit. By Julius’s reports, all three gave superior head and one of them had awesome command of her kegel muscles. He’d served a nickel too and was just as ready as Walker to get himself some, and by some Walker meant as much as Julius could get.

No, Julius was here because he was checking on things that couldn’t be checked on over the phone, not to Julius’s satisfaction.

Walker didn’t call him on it. Instead, he finished his drink, twisted and set the cup on the railing away from him.

When he turned back, Julius was looking into the house. He felt Walker’s eyes and he looked to him.

“Okay, Walk…” he paused then said slow, “shee-it. What the f**k?”

Walker felt his lips twitch.

Then he told him, “Walked outta that hole straight to a miracle.”

“You can say that again, my man, f**k me. Believe in God but only ‘bout two hours ago met my first angel walkin’ on earth.”

“Lexie’s a lot of things, all of them good but don’t think God makes angels like that.”

Julius’s midnight face split into a huge, white smile.

“I like that,” he muttered.

“So do I. Wildcat,” Walker replied and Julius’s smile got bigger.

Then some of the white died before he remarked, “Good for you. Happy for you. You deserve a miracle.”

Walker didn’t respond.

Julius made an accurate guess. “This ain’t play.”

Walker shook his head.

Julius went on. “How long did it take you to maneuver that?”

“Too long, over a week.”

Julius blinked. “That it?”

“Felt like fifty years.”

Julius threw his head back and boomed with laughter. Walker grinned at him while he did.

Then, still chuckling, he caught Walker’s eyes. “Pretty pu**y, sweet pu**y, classy pu**y like that, ex-con, took you a week. Fuck me. I can work it, brother, but even me, it’d take at least a month.”

Walker didn’t reply.

Julius’s gaze went intense. “How real is this?”

“Real,” Walker answered firmly and Julius tipped up his chin.

“Real for her. That bitch in there is livin’ the dream. I knocked on the door, f**kin’ me, big black man, her a white woman in a sweet crib in the middle of f**kin’ nowhere in the goddamn mountains. She took one look at me when she opened the door, knew exactly who I was and the bitch flipped. Acted like I just got home from bein’ at war. She refused to call you, wanted me to be a surprise. Even made me go out and move my ride so you wouldn’t see it when you got home.”

No surprise. That was Lexie.

Julius carried on. “Spent two hours drinkin’ beer with her and listenin’ about all the shit you been doin’. She made it sound like, you got home from the gym, you’d do it flyin’ through the air.”

No surprise with that either. That was also Lexie. But it didn’t mean hearing that from Julius didn’t feel really f**king good.

Julius studied him. Then he asked softly, “It that real for you?”

“Look around, Champ, everything you see is solid. How much more real can it get?”

Julius again studied him. Then he shook his head.

Then he muttered, “Jesus, brother,” he looked to the view and swallowed before he repeated a whispered, “Jesus.”

This was not a surprise either. His friend felt relief, overwhelmed by it. Julius had been worried. Walker’s state of mind the day he left prison, anyone who gave a shit would be. Julius walked out to three women, two children and a big family, all of whom gave a shit, they did it before he went down and they stuck by him while he did his time.

Walker walked in in chains for a crime he didn’t commit and walked out to none of that and he walked out with vengeance on his mind.

“I’m good, Champ,” Walker said quietly and got his friend’s eyes.

“You let her in?”

Walker nodded.

“How far in?” Julius went on.

“She’s in,” Walker replied.

“How far?” Julius pushed.

“She’s in,” he repeated.

“How far?” Julius repeated too.

Walker didn’t speak.

“You know what I’m askin’ you, Walk,” Julius told him and he did know.

“Her life has not been a fairytale either. You’ve spent time with her, I told you, you’d be shocked as shit what she’s been through. We’ve both got our demons. We’ve both shared.”