Page 115 of The Song We Lost

Noah grins. “Well I’m not saying no to that.”

Cole shakes his head but he’s already standing. People start clearing tables and moving to fulfill Sadie's desire for a fire.

Rose pats Jackson’s arm. “Let me show you where you’ll be staying before it gets dark.”

Jackson rises easily. “Yes ma’am.”

I slip away while everyone starts moving. I need to find Noah, I want to thank him again properly. The barn is quieter now. Lantern light swinging slightly overhead.

Voices carry from the far side before I reach the door. “…should have called someone.”

That’s Noah.

“He’s lucky no one got hurt,” Thomas replies.

My steps slow.

“What the hell was he thinking?” I don’t hear everything. Whispers mixed with anger and frustrations. But I do hear something that stops me short.

DUI.

I suck in a breath as I instinctively step forward into the light. Both of them turn immediately.

Noah swears. “Shit.”

Thomas exhales. “Bailey…”

“I didn’t want you to find out like this,” Noah says quickly. “Fuck I didn’t want you getting anywhere near this.”

My voice comes out steady. “Was he hurt?”

They both pause.

“No,” Noah says. “I don’t think so.”

Relief flickers through me before I can stop it.

“Dave’s handling it.” he adds.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “Dave handles Luke alright.”

The words taste bitter. Thomas steps toward me before the silence can deepen, before it can take root and poison this beautiful day.

“Come on,” he says gently. He takes my elbow and guides me toward the doors. “Let’s shake that off.”

The fire pit is already glowing when we reach it. Cole has the wood stacked high, with flames snapping up into the dark and people sitting around it on old benches and logs. Sadie looks radiant in the firelight, her cheeks flushed, hand resting on her stomach.

She sees me and immediately grins.

“Bailey!”

I drop onto the bench beside her. She looks between Jackson and me. “I know it hasn’t been officially recorded or released yet… But… Can you two sing "No Place I’d Rather Be?”

It feels like that song belongs to another life. Another version of me.

Jackson glances at me. “As long as Bailey wants to.”

Everyone waits. I feel the fire crackling beside us. The cold air brushes my cheeks. Sadie’s hopeful eyes.