Page 137 of Carson

Carson

Itry not to read too much into it, but Cole and Luna are talking. Hopefully she’s not annoyed by him. She’s trying to listen for the last bird.

When she tips her head back and laughs, I can’t stop smiling. I want so badly for Cole to see the good in her, and vice versa. They are my two favorite people.

“She’s made some pretty big strides the past couple of days,” Rage says, handing me a beer. “I wish I was closer to her.”

He laughs when he sees the look on my face.

“I’m not asking you to move back to Cheyenne,” he assures me

“It’s nice there but …”

“But it’s not home.”

I shake my head. “No. It’s not home. It taught me a lot, though. And if it hadn’t been for Cheyenne, I’d never have met your sister.”

Rage’s brows pull together. “If you and your brother hadn’t run off from my wedding …”

“But we did, and she’s safe. I can assure you, brother. I’ll never let my guard down again.”

“That’s good, but just remember, we can’t protect our women from everything. Sometimes shit happens that is out of our control.” He looks at my dad. “Just like that shit your dad is facing with your mom. You watch him. He’s the example we should both set for ourselves.”

“I do every day.”

Luna walks over with Cole. She hangs back, letting him do the talking. “Luna was wondering if you guys wanted to go for a walk.”

He looks at Mom. “Can you watch Mila while we go for a quick stroll?”

“Of course. The girls and I are going inside. I’ll give them their baths and then we’ll make some cookies.”

“Hell yeah. Fresh baked cookies,” Cole says, looking at us.

Luna and I lock eyes. She’s nervous, but she’s making a move, and that’s all I can ask.

She takes my hand and we head out back. Rage and Cole do their best to distract her as we make our way toward the cabin.

“So this is your van?” Rage asks. He shakes his head, and I know what he’s thinking. It might be time to retire the old girl.

Luna opens the door and looks inside before moving out of the way so that he can have a look. “Did you do all this yourself?” he asks.

“Yep.” She looks toward the cabin.

“Do you want to go inside?” I ask her.

Cole bounces on his toes. He’s excited for her to see what he’s done.

“Yeah, sure. While I’m here, I should grab a few things.”

My brother has been walking over here every day filling the flower vases in hopes that it would be the day she’d finally come home. In fact, his optimism has been what’s kept me going. And here she is. Today is the day.

She pauses on the steps, but after a deep breath she continues up them.

Cole opens the door and steps in first, followed by Luna and me, and then Rage.

Luna and Rage both stop inside the doorway, mouths dropping open.

“Are these?” Rage steps forward, reaching up and tapping a paper bird hanging from the ceiling with fishing line. “You kept them?”