"Rustin—"
"Not alone," he repeats, and there's something protective and possessive in his tone that makes it impossible to disagree with him.
Marshall gets out of the car, looking absurdly out of place in his designer winter coat and pristine boots. He sees us through the window, raises a hand in greeting that looks more like surrender than a challenge.
I open the door before he can knock. "Marshall."
"Kara, you haven’t responded to anyone in days. It was me or your father heading up this way. After Wilder told us where you’d gone. I figured I’m the lesser of all evils in this situation.” His eyes flick to Rustin behind me, then back. "I came to… to make sure you're okay. And to bring your things." He gestures to a bag in his car. "Your sister packed it."
"I’m fine. You didn't have to?—"
"I did. I needed to see for myself that this was real. That you're actually choosing..." He looks at Rustin again. There's no anger in his stare, just resignation. "I remember him, you know. From the photo you used to keep hidden in your jewelry box."
My face burns. "Marshall?—"
"You'd look at it sometimes when you thought I wasn't paying attention. This expression would cross your face. It’s like you were homesick. Now it’s making a lot of sense."
"I'm sorry," I say and I mean it. "You deserved better."
"I deserved someone who looked at me the way you look at him." He runs a hand through his perfectly styled hair. "I knew when you started crying during the cake tasting that this was wrong. But I thought we’d grow into loving each other."
"It doesn't work that way," Rustin says quietly and it’s not unkind. "Believe me, I tried that too."
Marshall nods. "You two have history. I get it.” He goes back to his car and returns with my bag. "Just so you know your mother is still threatening to come up here herself."
"The roads?—"
"Won't stop her if she's determined. I told her I'd handle it, bought you maybe a day at best if I had to guess." He looks at Rustin. "Take care of her."
"Always have," Rustin says simply.
Marshall turns away and I put a hand to my chest. That was awful and I hope he finds his person. Just like that hisRange Rover disappears down the mountain. Suddenly it's just us again. Rustin hasn't moved from the doorway, his shoulders rigid with tension.
I cross the threshold until I'm standing behind him. My fingers brush his shoulder, tracing down the rough flannel until they find his hand. He doesn't turn around, but he doesn't pull away either. For a long moment, neither of us speaks. The fire cracks. Snow slides from the roof in soft, muffled thuds. His thumb grazes the back of my hand. It’s barely a touch, but it's enough to make my breath catch.
"You okay?" I ask softly.
He drags a hand over his face. The gesture is rough. He exhales slowly. "He didn't deserve to drive all the way up here just to lose you."
"He didn't deserve to love someone who wasn't all in," I counter.
“Are you all in now? What happens when the snow melts?”
"Nothing." My voice is steady, but my pulse is anything but. "I stay here by your side where I should have been all along.”
8
epilogue: kara
One Year Later
Snow drifts thick and slow outside the window. Flakes catch in the glow of the Christmas lights I strung along the porch. The cabin smells like pine, cinnamon, and Rustin… it’s warm and steady.
A year ago, this cabin felt like a hiding place. Now it feels like home.
Dad's campaign survived the scandal. We aren’t exactly back to normal and maybe that’s a good thing. He called last week to ask whether or not I was happy. Then made a point to say that logging is a respectable business. Of course, he still won't say my name in public, but that feels like a small price to pay in exchange for my life back.
Then there’s Mom who pretends the almost-wedding never happened at all. She’s getting to know Rustin and I'm learning to let that be enough. My parents and I are working toward progress, not perfection. On the other hand, Kendall and I have never been closer. She visits every month and can be counted on to bring wine and gossip. What more could I ask for in a sister?
