Page 83 of Carson

His steps slow. “Me?”

I come to a stop. “The dragonfly Carson has been telling me about … it brought me to you. You need me, and I need you.”

His feet come to a halt, but he doesn’t look back at me. “Well, I certainly prayed for you. I prayed for some sort of relief from all of this pain, and then …” He turns around and looks at me. “And then you showed up, and now my wife is calmer than she’s been in months. But what could you possibly need me for?”

“I think you’re going to help me heal.”

Maybe knowing him will show me that what my father gave me isn’t the only version of a father’s love. He and Lily can show me what love is supposed to look like.

Dan rubs his finger and thumb over his temples. “I swear my mother sent you,” he whispers.

“Well, I know mine did.” I giggle, because this is the most bizarre interaction I’ve ever had with anyone.

“Come on, let’s get you to the cabin,” he says, waving me toward him. “I’ll do my best to help you, but I hope you know I’m not perfect.”

“That’s not what your wife says.”

“Yeah, well, I guess if she said it then it must be true, because she’s the smartest woman I know.”

He drapes his arm across my shoulders when I reach him, and we walk the rest of the way in silence.

“I’m just going to sit up here on the porch for a while,” I tell him, leading us toward the cabin.

Dan looks back at his house, and I know he’d prefer it if I was locked up safe and sound in my van before he leaves.

“I’ll be okay. I just want to look at the stars for a bit. They’re so beautiful out here. And then I’ll head straight to bed,” I say with a nod toward my van.

He’s still reluctant, but he wants to get back to his wife and daughter.

“Go on. I’m sure you both have a lot you want to talk about. I’m fine.”

“No running.”

I cross my fingers over my chest. “I promised your wife I’d stay and help her. I won’t back out on that.”

He nods, trusting me. “Don’t stay out here too long. You need your sleep. Carson is a big boy. He’ll be home when he gets here. My sons will do the right thing, sometimes it just takes them a little longer to get there.”

I smile because even though Dan is quite upset with his boys right now, he still speaks well of them.

“Good night, Dan,” I say quietly.

“Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He shakes a finger at me and then turns and walks away.

It’s so quiet out here. If I really listen, I can hear the water rushing over the rocks down by the stream. I yawn out loud, covering my mouth, and lean back on the porch swing. I’ll just close my eyes for a minute.

I must fall asleep, because the next thing I know, I’m being shaken awake by my brother. “Luna, Luna, wake up.”

It takes me a few minutes to figure out where I’m at and what’s going on.

“I’ve got Carson in the truck. He’s shit-faced drunk. Can you help me get him inside?”

He hands me Carson’s keys and points at the door.

“Unlock the door, and I’ll get him out of the truck.”

I do as he asks, still rubbing my eyes.

“It’s my Luuunaaa,” Carson singsongs as Chance guides him past me and into the cabin.