A Different Kind of Hero by Merri Maywether

When I was at the grocery store, I saw a man with a cart full of steaks. His daughter held the railing, and it was obvious to all who saw them together they were excited about something. 

I thought to myself, what kind of party was he planning?

Then I sat down to write this post, and it hit. Tomorrow, June 20th, is Father’s Day. He probably got a new grill, and they were shopping for a family barbecue. 

Father’s Day is different from Mother’s Day. On Mother’s Day, we go out for lunch, and the kids try to be quiet so we can take a nap. On Father’s Day, dads and kids play games, plan meals, and engage in shenanigans. 

I love recalling Father's Days when the kids were younger. There was the time when my (then) seven-year-old son thought for sure dad would want a football as a Father’s Day present. They could play together. 

When I told my husband, after the fact, he asked why I suggested the more suitable purchase of a grooming kit with cologne. He wanted to play football too. My bad. 

Then there was the year the kids bought the “Best Dad Ever” t-shirt. My husband’s response was epic. Anyone who saw the wide grin whenever he wore the shirt would have sworn he won the lottery. His kids thought he was the best. Nothing else mattered. 

Dads are heroes of a different sort. They make sure the lights are turned off in every room, and the car is maintenanced at the correct mileage, and they know the best places to hide when mom has had it. 

They are also the playmate who can make up games at a moment’s notice and the sage who seasons their stories with hard-learned truths.

I love Father’s Day because it reminds me of how the romantic heroes in our lives have continued to grow. 

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For those of us who were curious about the history of Father’s Day, I have a p.s. 

• The first Father’s Day, in 1910, was declared by Sonora Dodd in Spokane, Washington. Dodd was raised by a single father. After the first Mother’s Day, she wanted her father and many like him to receive recognition for his dedication to his children. 

• The holiday had its peaks and lows. Some rejected it as a marketing ploy or another way to trigger gift purchases. The true intent remained, and Father’s Day was declared an official holiday in 1966.

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Merri Maywether lives with her husband in rural Montana. You can find her in the town's only coffee house listening to three generations of Montanans share their stories. Otherwise, she's in the classroom or the school library, inspiring the next generation's writers.

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Here is a father-son scene from Home For Good

He's the hometown hero. She's the small-town sweetheart he left behind.

It broke Katie’s heart when Brock severed ties with her. She believed they were going to get married and live happily ever after. With some help from her friends and family, she healed, grew up, and moved on. There were some bumps along the way, but Katie was at the point where she could say she was happy with her life. Then Brock moved back to Three Creeks and turned her world upside down.

Retired, Army Colonel Brock Buchanan knows how to go into a battle. He's served on numerous tours and helped rebuild communities under the enemy's nose. They say love is a battlefield, so he should have the upper hand when he returns to Three Creeks to claim what he foolishly left behind all those years ago.

When Brock and Katie reconnect at a high school reunion, they take a trip to the past. Brock sees a new future for them. Katie has 20/20 hindsight of everything that went wrong. Everyone in Three Creeks is asking the same question. What strategy will Brock use to rekindle the love he left behind?

Read this heartwarming, small town, clean romance and find out why Brock wants to return home for good.