Page 86 of Shattered Souls

The nursery is completed.

The walls that were just white a few days ago are painted black, one wall having ghost and pumpkin wallpaper, since Jett is due a day before Halloween—ironic, huh?

There’s a sign above the white crib with Jett’s name spelled out in ASL. A rocking chair is nestled in the corner of the room, and a small bookshelf is filled with loads of baby books. There’s even the changing table that I hardly glanced at in the store, stashed to the nines with wipes and diapers.

I press the back of my hand to my mouth as I enter the room, trying desperately to contain my pregnancy hormones.

I walk up to the rocking chair, knowing I’m going to spend most of those sleepless nights in it. My hormones win as I take in the blanket draped over the back. It’s a black blanket with stars twinkling all over. In orange, there’s a meat hook, machete, a raven, heart shaped locket, and handcuffs.

“We figured since life is changing so fast, you’d have something to remember where we started from.” I had to shed my collar after we fled, though I’ve kept the locket attached to our keys. I clutch the fabric to my chest. It already smells like them.

“I love it.” I admit, turning to them.

“One more thing,” Hayze motions to the crib. A small stuffed scarecrow sits perched up on top of a blanket that has Jett Lowe embroidered on it.

I rush over to them, throwing my arms around both of them. The tears that come aren’t pretty. They’re the kind that have your nose running and leave you hiccuping for breath.

“I can’t even begin to thank you guys.” In sync, they kiss the top of my head.

In this moment, I understand it—that every single day before meeting them was leading me towards these two like a beacon. I didn’t end up in Montana by chance—no, my soul knew where to go. Just like Hayze knew when he saw me at Shattered Souls that I was his muse.

“Just a reminder that you’ll always be our little scarecrow.” Hayze swipes the tears from my face and presses a loving kiss to the tip of my nose.

“You two have grown soft.” I laugh through sniffles, taking a seat in the rocking chair.

“You’ve given us reason to love again, Rayvn.” Synn coos. “My heart will forever be soft enough to catch you when you fall.”