Tucking her face into Ella’s neck, she alternated between whispering, “Oh, thank God. ThankGod,” and, “What in the hell were youthinkin’?” as she rocked her in her arms, smoothing a hand over her back.
Eventually, Mac pulled back, her hands on Ella’s shoulders as she looked her over, scanning her little body for any injuries. She liked to think Ella knew enough to avoid any, but accidents happened, and she’d been out there for going on five hours.
“I’m ok-k-kay,” she said through her rattling teeth.
“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t get used to that.” Mac squeezed Ella’s upper arms before pulling out a blanket from the rescue pack and wrapping it around her. “Your momma’s gonna kill you.”
Ella’s shoulders slumped, and she frowned. “Has she been worried?”
“Everyone’sbeen worried, you goof. Seriously, bug,what were you thinkin’?”
In the blink of an eye, Ella’s face morphed into a scowl. “That jerk, Tommy. He bet me I wasn’t brave enough to go into the woods by myself.”
“Well, you sure showed him,” Mac said dryly, standing and guiding Ella in the direction of the school, tucking her into her side. “It’s a good thing he didn’t bet you that you couldn’t find your way out yourself, ’cause you would’ve lost that one.”
Ella ducked her head sheepishly, and then she beamed up at Mac. “But I did what you taught me!” She gestured to her hat and the sweater she wore outside her coat.
Mac looked down at her niece, a smile on her face. She wasn’t sure she’d ever stop smiling today. “I know you did. Just like we talked about.” Mac squeezed the little hand on which she currently had a death grip. “I’m proud of you.”
“I knew you’d find me.”
“Oh yeah? How’d you know that?”
Ella stared up at her with love and so much admiration in her gaze, it nearly knocked Mac right on her ass. “Because I can always count on you.”
Mac would relive this day for the rest of her life. Both the good and the bad. Finding out Ella was missing and the nerve-racking hours that followed were some of the worst in her entire life. But so many other moments throughout the day overshadowed them in their goodness.
Like seeing Rory’s face when her eyes had first landed on Ella and witnessing the pure joy and relief that had swept over her features. Or accepting bone-crushing hugs from her sister and their momma. Or getting more pats on the back than she could count, the townsfolk looking at her with something she couldn’t remember ever being on the receiving end of—pride and admiration.
“I knew you could do this, sweetheart,” her momma said, her eyes shining with something Mac hadn’t ever been able to put a name to before. It practically poured out of her, the same look she’d bestowed upon Mac throughout her life, but usually without the accompanying praise. Like at the hospital, and in their dining room when she’d agreed to take over at town hall, and dozens of other times in her life. “As soon as they told me you were leadin’ the rescue, I took my first deep breath. I knew you wouldn’t let us down. You never do.”
Mac huffed out a disbelieving laugh. “I… ’Course I do.”
Momma tipped her head to the side, her brows pinched. “What on earth do you mean?”
“Well, Momma…” she said, her tone matter-of-fact. This wasn’t exactly the time or the place to get into it, but Mac’s failures also weren’t a secret, especially within their family. “You don’t have to blow smoke up my butt, even if everyone’s makin’ me the hero today.”
“Youarethe hero today.”
Mac brushed off the praise and continued as if her momma hadn’t said a word. “You don’t have to pretend you and Daddy haven’t been disappointed in my…choices.”
“Why in the world would you think that?”
“Why—” She shook her head, fumbling with the words until they suddenly poured out of her. “Whywouldn’tI? The first Haven to fail college—”
“Mac,” Momma said, her tone sweetly reprimanding. “You and I both know college wasn’t ever gonna hold you. You weren’t made for it.”
“Made for success, you mean?”
“Hush, now.” She reached for Mac’s hand and squeezed. “Made forordinary. All four of you are as different as each of the seasons, but you have similarities. Rory and Will thrived at college because they both flourish by seein’ their accomplishments on paper. You and Nat never had time for any of that. You’re both doers, Mac. And you’re doin’.”
Mac furrowed her brows, suddenly seeing her life through a whole new lens at her mother’s words. “But what about when I was spendin’ my timedoin’ while bein’ a bartender at the place Daddy never wanted here to begin with?”
Momma cocked her head to the side. “You mean while bein’ an integral part of helpin’ your future brother-in-law establish a successful business?”
That…wasn’t exactly how she saw it.
“Well, how about when I ‘flit off,’” she said, air quoting a phrase her daddy loved to use, “for weeks on end and run outta town?”
