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Connor crossed his arms over his broad chest, dressed all in black and looking bad ass. “Briggs Lewiston won’t be breaking the restraining order again,” he said, in a tone that sent shivers down my spine.
“Did you kill him?” Fox asked, wide-eyed.
Connor stared at him dead-on, then quirked a smile. “No kid, no killing. But I got a cop buddy of mine to flag him down on the way back to Columbus, to inform him that there would be financial implications and other dire consequences if he messed with you and my town.”
“Oohh,yourtown.” Fox sounded impressed, staring up at the real-life action hero.
I wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing and waited for Noah to take point.
“Thank you,” Noah said. I guessed he was okay with Fox being all starry-eyed over hero-Connor for now.
Connor nodded. “No worries. You take care now.”
Then, he sauntered out, and I didn’t hear the bell at the door. The fuck?
I exchanged a glance with Noah, who mouthedninjaand cracked a smile, and I couldn’t help the words that spilled out of me.
“We’ll talk more, all of us, yeah? Upstairs on the sofa.” I wriggled and winced.
Fox nodded and jumped up as if he had a tail made of springs. “I guess you’re both too old to be sitting on the floor.”
“Just you wait!” I warned. “As soon as I get up, you’re in trouble.”
Fox made a show of examining his nails. “I’ll have left home by then,” he deadpanned, and Noah snorted a laugh, all the tears and the sadness gone for a moment.
“We’re gonna be so good together, the three of us,” Noah said and held his hand out in front of him. “What do you think, Fox? You, me, and Chris?”
Fox laid his on top. “Yep.”
Then, it was just me who needed to say my part, and they both stared at me expectantly. “So good,” I said as I slapped my hand on theirs.
And we would be.
I knew it right into my bones, and I certainly felt it in my heart.
Epilogue
Chris
The Spring RainsFestival was in full swing, and the whole town seemed to have turned out for it. The diner’s stall was a celebration of color, adorned with Pride flags that fluttered in the gentle breeze. Each flag was a burst of brightness against the backdrop of the festival, their rainbow hues weren’t easy to miss. Pastor McKenna might not have been part of this community anymore, but that didn’t mean everyone left in town was inclusive, but so far, no one else had an issue with the flags in the diner’s window. The stall for the fastest pitch was right next door, the team taking turns to man it, and money was flowing in.
In particular, a significant sum from Quinn, who’d handed me a check a few days back, making me promise to tell no one. I’d asked if I could share the money with Jerry’s soccer team—he just handed me another one and smiled as though he was the happiest man on Earth.
I really liked Quinn.
Wheeling among the stalls, I observed the vibrant life of the festival. Kids ran around with painted faces, the aroma of various foods filled the air, and the sound of laughter and music created a backdrop of fun, despite the bout of spring snowflakes spinning in the air. It was cold, but most of the snow was gone now, and in its place the brooks and rivers ran deep and fresh, and the hope of summer felt real. Today was one of those perfect days when the community came together to celebrate, and I loved every minute.
I’d checked out the other stalls, said my hellos, and I wheeled from the Lennox ranch stall where a grumpy Levi was in charge of theguess the weight of horsecompetition, and headed back to the diner’s stall. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride seeing Noah there, managing everything with his usual efficiency. His rainbow cakes and filled croissants were proving to be popular, with people lining up to sample the food he’d prepared with my help.
Well, not much of my help.
But I tried.
Fox was hanging around too, supposedly to assist Noah, but I noticed that he was spending more time after his turn on the baseball stall roaming the festival with Molly, along with Clarke, who was in a bit of a funk. It was clear that Clarke was missing Ainsley, who’d moved to live with his aunt, changing schools in the process.
I was happy he’d had somewhere to go, other kids who were disowned by parents weren’t as lucky, but I was sad for his and Clarke’s young love, and also, that Fox missed him as well.
“Ainsley!”
