Booker joined us with beers. “Your old house is perfect for us, by the way. Reece has completely redecorated.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s unrecognizable. Which is good. We needed to make it ours.”
“I’m glad. It should be someone’s home. A real home.”
“It is now.” He took a sip of his beer. “And Jake says the old garage is thriving.”
“Good. He earned it.”
We stood there, the three of us, watching the family mingle in our yard.
“You know,” Booker said, “when you first told us you were moving, I thought you were crazy. I knew you needed to do it, that she was worth it, but there was a part of me… I don’t know. I guess I just couldn’t imagine you in a different place.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” I admitted.
“But now? Seeing you like this? It makes perfect sense.” He gestured to Leigh, who was laughing at something Blake said. “She’s good for you.”
“She’s everything.”
LEIGH
After lunch, we all walked to the beach.
The adults spread out blankets while the kids ran around, collecting shells and chasing waves. It was cold for February, but the sun was out and the kids didn’t care.
I sat with Delaney, Blake, Reece, Billie, and my Mom. The guys were throwing a football around with Cade and Barrett and Amelia were running around laughing like maniacs as they chased everyone.
“So,” Blake said, grinning at me. “How’s living together?”
“Perfect. Disgusting. We’re that couple now.”
“Good,” Delaney said. “You deserve to be that couple.”
“How’s Wren doing?” Mom asked.
“Better. She’s been talking about leaving the lighthouse. She’s not quite made it outside yet but she’s actually trying this time.”
“And Claire?”
I glanced down the beach where Claire was walking alone, her hands shoved in her pockets.
“She’s… I don’t know. There’s something going on, but she’s not talking.”
Mom shook her head. “Your Aunt Becca is worried about her. I hope she talks to one of you soon to figure out whatever it is that’s bothering her.”
“She will,” I said. “Eventually.”
We sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the kids play, the men throw the football, the ocean stretch endlessly before us.
“I’m happy for you, sweetheart,” Mom said quietly. “You found where you belong.”
“I did. And it turns out where I belong is with him, not just here.”
“That’s the secret,” Delaney said. “Home isn’t a place. It’s a person.”
DEX
