“Okay,” she says, echoing the word from last night.
Different this time.
Less uncertain.
More… willing.
“Okay,” I repeat.
Then I glance at the counter. “Now I need to not ruin this breakfast.”
She lets out a soft laugh.
“I’m definitely supervising,” she says.
“That’s fair.”
“And if you mess up the hollandaise, I’m ordering takeout.”
“Also fair.”
She leans against the counter, watching me as I start pulling things out of the bag.
Still a little red-eyed. Still a little guarded.
But… She’s still here.
And this time, neither of us are going anywhere.
EPILOGUE
KATHRYN
“Uncle Doug, watch this!”
“I’m watching,” Douglas says, not even looking up from where he’s standing next to me.
“You’re not watching!” Ethan insists.
“I am,” he replies calmly. “You’re about to jump off something you shouldn’t be jumping off of.”
“I can do it!”
“You can,” Douglas agrees. “Doesn’t mean you should.”
Bella giggles from somewhere near the patio furniture, clutching a juice box like it’s a lifeline.
Anna catches my eye from across the yard and smiles, a little tired but a lot happier than the first time I met her.
It’s been a year.
A year since a charity auction.
A year since three half-dates.
A year since I almost walked away from the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I lean into Douglas’s side, slipping my hand into his like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
