Page 61 of Crossroads

“Malcolm got to meet my son. My twin got to hold my son and made fun of me, saying that the kid would probably choose him when we got older because he was the rock star, and I was just the guy with the dad bod. But then Henry had reached for me, and Malcolm had just laughed. Because my son knew his dad.”

“Bodhi,” I whispered.

“My daughter never got to meet my brother. Malcolm died before she was born. And then they died. And then I was left alone here, trying to figure out who the fuck I was.”

He turned to me then, as tears slowly fell down my face, and I didn’t have any words.

“I was lost, Kiera. I’ve been lost for far too long. So fucking angry. In this graveyard, there are countless people that I’ve known in my life, countless families buried beneath this soil, and it feels like an anchor weighing me down. But then I look to the peaks behind you, and I can breathe again. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, Kiera. But I wanted you to meet them. To meet the part of my soul that will always be here.”

“They should always be there.” I put my hand over his chest and let out a deep breath. “They will always be here as well. I’m not asking to take that space.”

“I know. And that’s why I can tell you that I love you.”

I leaned into him and let him hold me, and I did my best not to fall into sobs in his arms. “I love you too.”

But my life wasn’t here. And I was leaving soon. I didn’t know what the hell we were going to do about it.

After we held each other for a bit longer, we made the long hike back to the house, cleaned up, and made our way downtown. We were one of the last ones there, it seemed. It was hard to find parking, but thankfully, Bodhi knew this town like the back of his hand. We walked through the crowd, being stopped by more than a few people who wanted to check in on both of us. Gone were the curious looks as to why I was there, and the downright threatening looks at Bodhi for even existing. Something had changed since he had started to come to town more, and I hoped he saw that. I hoped he understood that this town stood behind him more than he had ever imagined.

When we found the other Ashfords and their friends, I waved, and soon we were enveloped in hugs, laughs, and Bodhi was being teased. It felt like home.

Home.

Could I make Ashford Creek my home? Maybe. But I hadn’t been here that long. What would happen if I said I wanted to stay here, but it was too much for Bodhi? Or too much for me? My life was in flux, I didn’t know what to do, but for now, I was surrounded by people who cared about me and people who I cared about, and I let myself breathe.

“It is a special holiday here in Ashford Creek, meaning we can open carry with drinks.”

My eyes widened as Callum handed me a cup with a lid on it and winked. “I know you love this type of Ashford brew.”

“The amber kind?”

“My kind,” Felicity said as she leaned into Callum. “Isn’t he the best?”

I took a sip and sighed. “A cold beer on a hot day surrounded by friends? This is the best.”

“Tell me about it,” Teagan said as she and Rune came forward, laughing at something someone else said.

I looked around at the group and waved at Finnian, who held one little girl in his arms, Sterling with the other. I knew they were Finnian’s kids, but the twins looked so alike that I couldn’t help but imagine Malcolm holding Bodhi’s son.

I let out a soft sigh, wondering what Bodhi was thinking, and then his arm was around me, and we watched the parade unfold.

Promise and Keely were on a float, as they had sponsored one from the bed and breakfast. We waved and hooted and hollered as they threw candy at us. Elizabeth was on a float with some of the teenagers, and I recognized the older teens who were Thatcher’s and Callum’s.

The fire truck passed by then, with Thatcher up top driving, and he honked his horn at us. That’s when I realized that Thatcher’s youngest was in the back, waving wildly. I waved back and pulled out my phone to take a couple of pictures.

I wanted to remember this moment.

Kellan was on another float, his youngest with him, and Bronwyn was also on the float with them, since it seems to be a local business and helpers float.

It was amazing to me that I recognized so many people. And when Tess came up to us, as she wasn’t working since all of the kids were accounted for, she held her daughter on her hip, and we all ate the random food that we found at some of the stalls and cheered at the parade.

I’d never been to something like this before, and I’d done festivals all over the world with thousands of people in attendance. I played in sold out stadiums, had been to the Grammys and Oscars.

But this moment in time was so different.

And I didn’t want to say goodbye to it.

As people started to move around to the next phase of the event, since the parade was now over, Bodhi pulled me by my hand and tugged me toward one of the small businesses.