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“Why?” she responded. “I’ve already told you that you don’t need to waste your time here. You’re free to go. Congrats on the big opportunity.”

“Damn it.” He turned to leave, but as soon as he stepped off the porch he whipped around and knocked again. He knew he’d feel sick until he made this right. “Can I see you? Please?”

He was afraid he’d exhausted her patience, that she wouldn’t even respond anymore. But after three or four minutes, the door cracked open. “What would you like to say?”

He could barely see her for the darkness and the way she was shielding herself with the door. But at least they were finally face to face. “I want to say…” He stopped because he didn’t know what he wanted to say. He just didn’t want her to feel bad, didn’t want to be responsible for knocking her down again. “I want to say that you’re a wonderful person and you’ll find the right man—someone who isn’t as prickly and restless as I am.”

“Okay. Thank you,” she said and would’ve closed the door if he hadn’t put up a hand to stop it.

“That’s it?” he said.

“What else is there?” she asked.

He swore. “Can I come in?”

She started to shake her head, but he managed to push the door wide enough to step inside and scoop her into his arms. “I hate myself for causing this.”

“You need to do what will make you happy,” she said. “You have the right to do what makes you happy. And I respect that. But…”

When he pulled back, he could see that her eyes were red and swollen. “But…”

“I’ll tell you this. You’re needed here. You’re wanted here. And you’re loved here,” she finished softly. Then she pulled away, waited for him to step back and closed the door.

* * *

Loved here.

Never had Kanon felt loved in Hard Luck. He’d been the boy no one wanted. He’d built his home elsewhere. And yet… He’d enjoyed his time since he’d come back. It’d been good for him to return and make peace with this place—as much as his worst memories would allow—and he had Patience to thank for making it easy. She had a calm, consistent, supportive manner that soothed his heart and mind.

A knock sounded at his door. He hoped it would be her. He wanted to pretend nothing had changed so he could enjoy hanging out with her until he had to leave. She reminded him of the James Taylor song his boss in North Dakota had listened to all the time—“Something in the Way She Moves.” He’d looked it up on Apple Music and played it several times since he’d returned to the motel.

“Coming.” He turned off the music, pulled on a shirt, then opened the door.

It wasn’t Patience, but he wasn’t truly surprised. His leaving Hard Luck—leaving her—signified abandonment, and that had broken her trust in him. She wouldn’t be spending any more time with him, and that made him saddest of all because it meant he’d been robbed of the time they could’ve had over the next two weeks.

Kelsey stood outside his door, nibbling nervously on her bottom lip. “You weren’t gone long. Everything go okay?”

He was about to insist all was fine. He wasn’t used to letting anyone get close enough to offer support. He was used to problems—to never-ending bumps in the road. But he’d come to care about his stepsister, too, so he made a conscious effort not to push her away.

Leaving the door ajar so she could come in, he walked back to the bed and flopped onto it. “Not so good.”

She closed the door behind her. “Was she mad?”

“Not mad. It was more that…she’s gone into protection mode.”

“What does that look like?”

“A turtle. She’s pulled her head and arms into her shell to avoid the menace I pose.”

“I feel terrible.” She slumped into the room’s only chair. “If I wasn’t so sad you were leaving, I probably wouldn’t have mentioned it. But… I don’t know. It felt like she was the only person in town who might truly understand and commiserate with me.”

“How can you be sad?” he asked. “You’re getting rid of the stepbrother who’d get half your inheritance if he stayed.”

“I don’t mind sharing with you,” she insisted.

He smiled. “I know. I’ve been shocked by how kind you’ve been. I think your mother would be proud.”

“Until I screwed up and told Patience you were leaving and made a mess.”