“Still here,” I chirped.
“You’re walking too fast for someone recovering from a near death experience.”
I shook my head. Despite his injuries, he’d been babying me nonstop. “Says the man who ran into a burning building.”
“For the record, I’d do it again.”
Vincent squealed and kicked his legs.
Jasper beamed. “See? He agrees with me.”
Before long, the trees opened up to the river, and then finally, to the falls.
“We need a family photo,” Jasper said, heading to the overlook point.
I complied, and I couldn’t help but smile as he stretched his arm out to capture a picture of the three of us with the thundering waterfall in the background. The water was cold and clean, the chill of the mist welcome in the late August humidity.
For months and months, I’d rolled my eyes anytime someone mentioned Cora and Nathaniel, believing the legend was tragic and silly. Believing they were nothing more than two people doomed by stupidity and bad timing. But I saw it differently now. They’d chosen their own destiny when life had tried to push them away from what they truly wanted. That was the true lesson here.
“Maybe they didn’t jump because they wanted to die,” I admitted to Jasper.
His eyes flashed with amusement, like he was pleasantly surprised by my admission.
“Maybe they wanted to live without fear. On their terms.”
Face splitting into a smile, he held a hand out. “Come on. I’m hungry.”
He led me down the back way, along a gently sloping path that curved around the granite hills and deposited hikers at the bottom of the falls. By the time we reached the bottom, we were drenched in sweat and starving.
I laid out the blanket we’d packed, and Jasper opened his backpack, procuring a pouch of plum puree for Vincent and a Basil-approved charcuterie assortment for us.
Vincent, who could now sit up on his own, amused himself by scrunching the blanket in his fists and giggling.
“I still dream about the fire.” Jasper’s tone was serious, though after he popped a piece of Manchego into his mouth, he grinned.
I rearranged my ponytail and chugged my water. It had only been two weeks since then, so that was natural. Already, I knew that I’d never forget the details of that day. The fear and the panic, then the relief that came when I saw his face. It wasn’t just a memory. It was part of me, mapped in my neurons forever.
“I was terrified,” he admitted. “And I still am. The thought of losing you. The sight of you slumped in that corner. The feel of your weak pulse beneath my fingers.”
Giving him a sympathetic smile, I grasped his hand. “I’m still processing,” I told him. “And there’s so much we don’t know yet.”
My career, my town. It was all floating in the abyss. The unknown. Caleb had been arrested for murder and arson anda list of other horrible crimes. My employer was embroiled in scandal, and most of our offices and records had been destroyed.
When I let myself think about all that, the peace I’d worked so hard to achieve felt like it was slipping away. I was beyond fortunate to have Vincent and Jasper. That was more than enough for now. But the guilt ate at me each time I considered all the ruined lives.
“You can’t carry all the broken pieces,” Jasper said gently. “You didn’t make him light the match. But you survived, and that’s enough.”
I nod, tears stinging my eyes.
“Shh.” He scooted closer and put an arm around me. “Listen to the water and breathe. I’ve got you.”
We sat for a long while, watching the rushing water, playing with Vincent and laughing when he made silly faces, and feeding each other.
The day was one of the best days I’d ever had.
“We should get married,” Jasper blurted out after a long, satisfying silence.
Heart lurching, I pushed him away. “Are you crazy?”
