Page 111 of Will to Run

He stops, and I nod my head.

“I’m so happy to hear that. Because, despite what happened, after I was able to step back and listen to my siblings without my distorted lens, I think you guys have something special, and I’m grateful you’re giving it time and space to explore. Plus, I have no doubt that Jaxon would have packed up and left to be with you, and we kind of need him here,” he nods, “But mostly, I’m trying to say, I’m really, really sorry.”

I appreciate and accept his apology, and I know he is coming from a place of hurt that I don’t know about. Surprisingly, Jaxon and I have never gotten into the nitty-gritty of it, but I push the envelope the tiniest bit.

“Did you really think I purposely ended up at his garage?”

“My ex did a lot of things purposely that I never could have imagined someone doing. I have been conditioned to doubt, but I’m working on it. ”

“I promise I was never out to take advantage of your brother, or any of you. I didn’t expect to find a home in Jaxon or Amberheart, but I did, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. You might be stuck with me, Cayson,” I laugh.

“I’m so fucking glad to hear you say that, Della. Can I hug you?”

All I do is open my arms, and he meets me to give me the biggest hug ever. He pulls away and holds my shoulders.

“My kids love you too, you know,” he adds. “This isn’t about me, and I’m not getting into it now, but one of the therapies we are starting with Luke is art therapy, and it will be nice for him to have someone to talk shop with. They were not happy when Maria came to watch them tonight, and they couldn’t come see Miss Della.”

“I love your kids, Cayson, and I am happy to help and be involved in whatever capacity you see fit.”

“Thank you,” he says, and I’ll find things out about him one day, but today, I’ll just take it for what it is.

“Everything okay in here?” Jaxon pops his head in to ask.

“Everything is just right,” I smile.

Cayson and I join everyone at the fire pit, and throughout the night, they keep coming back to my paintings and the place I could have at Heart of Will as the resident painter. When the fire starts dying down, the family takes the hint and starts cleaning up. But before they leave, I address them all.

“You guys, thank you for your incredible generosity tonight. All of your support means everything to me, and if there’s anything you ever want painted, let me know. I owe you a lot of commissions.”

“Are you kidding?” Everest says. “We are getting in at ground level at a steal of a price. Those will all be worth double someday.”

“Triple!” shouts Hazel.

“Priceless,” Jaxon smiles at me like I’m the only person here.

After goodbye hugs go around and they leave, he closes the door and his lips brush mine, soft and tender, before he folds me into his arms.

“Welcome home, Della,” he says quietly.

54

EPILOGUE

DELLA

When my alarm blares this morning, I lie in bed for an extra beat to reflect. I’ve been in Amberheart a year to the day, and never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined falling into a place like this.

Becoming the resident painter has been a dream, and, as it turns out, my services are very much in demand. Not only did I spend last summer creating beautiful custom landscape portraits for weddings, but I also expanded it to other guests, and people ate it up. In the off-season, I paint what I want to, and have a permanent corner in the upstairs gallery of Painted Heart. A job that never existed in my mind fills my life in ways I never knew I was missing.

Since so much has changed for everyone over the past twelve months, Beth decided to host the First Annual Amberheart Sunrise Breakfast. Even Quinn is coming out for it. About a month ago, she mentioned she was jealous that I was getting to see the Amberheart sunrise again. One thing led to another, and the conversation ended with a plan for her to come out.

I can’t wait until she gets to not only see Jax again, but also meet his whole family. About a month after he and I got back together, we went to Custer to return her car, while he followed me out in his truck. The plan was to drive back together, and we even detoured to the Big Horn Mountains to watch the sunrise. It was extraordinary in its own right, but made even more special because, as the alpenglow lit up the peaks, he turned to tell me he loved me. There wasn’t the usual Jaxon flair; it was almost as if he couldn’t wait to say it. But he had nothing to be nervous about because I’m pretty sure I’ve loved the man longer.

The memory has me reaching for him, but he’s already up and out of bed. I follow, and by the time we arrive at his parents’ house, the entire family is here. It’s bustling, which is wild because it’s still stupid o’clock in the morning.

In true Beth Wills style, there is a full continental breakfast with anything you could possibly imagine laid out. I wonder if she slept last night. There’s no way.

Everyone is bundled up, but the chill doesn’t stop anyone from laughing and enjoying the time together. It’s my favorite part about being here. How much these people truly love each other. Even when things get strained, it always comes back to base.