“You okay?” he asked. “Knowing Sloan’s out there?”
She met his gaze. “I’m not running. Not anymore.” The words felt right, felt true. “Besides, someone has to keep an eye on your K9 SAR operation.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Just so as we’re clear, you’re not the boss of me.”
She laughed. “Oh no, buddy, I’m just trying to keep you out of trouble.”
His laugh was low, warm. “Right.” He glanced toward her house, where the daisy light glowed in welcome. Yes, she’d turned it on. Probably would always keep it burning.
“So ... Orlando could use a walk.”
“Oh yeah?” But she laughed as he took her hand.
The snow crunched under their boots as they crossed the space between houses, Orlando trotting ahead, alert even in the peaceful night. Her daisy light cast a warm circle on the fresh powder, and the northern lights painted everything in ethereal colors.
“Gabe wants to be a K9 handler,” he told her, climbing the porch steps. “I told him I’d be happy to work with him.”
“Really?”
“Fresh starts for everyone.” He walked into the house.
Then he headed to the closet and opened it.
Emerged with a sleeping bag roll and the metal box.
“What are—”
“Follow me.”
He led her out to the porch, where the snow sat on the Adirondack chairs. He scraped one off and unrolled the sleeping bag on it.
“Only one?”
“Yep,” he said. He held out his hand. “C’mere.”
She took it and he pulled her to the edge of the deck. Held out the metal box.
“I don’t know who’s in here.”
“Whoever it is, they need to be set free.” He gave her a grim smile. “Time to let the past go.”
She nodded.
Then she took the box and opened it. “Whoever you are, I hope you lived a happy life. And I hope that you’re in heaven.”
Then she shook it out into the night wind.
“Sorta sad, not having anyone to mourn them.”
Jericho took the box from her. Closed it. Then took her hand. “We will.”
Then he stared up at the sky, closed his eyes.
She stood next to him, did the same. The wind sang in the trees around them, the pine scent of the forest thickening.
Thankyou,God,for mercy. For second chances.
For bringing ushome.
