“How do you do it?” she asked Arden.
“Do what?”
“Live like this.” She squeezed her eyes shut and grimaced. “Okay, I can’t seem to keep my foot out of my mouth today. Your home is beautiful. Kyle seems like a wonderful guy. You have a great life here. But…how do you sleep knowing that you have enemies who might attack you at any moment?”
Arden sighed as she gathered her thoughts. “I used to think about it a lot.A lota lot. And I wondered what I’d gotten myself into. But if Kyle hadn’t come along, the truth is, I might not have a home at all. I might not even be alive. But he kept me safe.”
She lifted her chin in the general direction of Watchdog as she added, “They all did, and still do. The world is not a safe place and it isn’t getting any safer. But as long as I have my home and my people whoaremy home, it’s okay. I’m not afraid. I have control over this little corner of the world.Mycorner. And that’s all I need. From here, I can help the people who need me. And maybe, if I keep doing that, some goodness will spread through the darkness. We each have our own way of spreading the light. It’s up to us to find it. Then we have to find the courage to do it. That’s a lot easier when you have a supportive family around you.”
She reached for Maren’s hand. “And now you do. Sister.”
Maren looked down as she smiled, trying not to let her grateful tears fall. The Mira-shaped empty space in her heart could never be filled. But, Arden had found her way into Maren’s heart and made it feel fuller overall.
“Thank you. I can’t wait for you to meet my brothers. I know once I get a hold of them, they’ll come straight here. They adore their niece as much as I do. And, they’re going to love her father’s family.”
And dang it, there goes a tear. She quickly wiped it away.
“Tell you what,” Arden said, clapping her hands together. “You mentioned you wished you were on a Hawaiian vacation the day you got here. So, let’s lean into that vibe and have a couple of piña coladas?”
Maren giggled. “You have the makings?”
Arden was already standing up and turning toward the kitchen. “Of course I have the makings. I live with a sailor. We have three kinds of rum. I’m sure I have a can or two of coconut cream in the pantry and I know for a fact I have pineapple rings packed in their juice and maraschino cherries because I was going to make a pineapple upside-down cake for our next book club night.” She opened the pantry door in the kitchen.
“Oh, what are you reading?”
“It was Charlie’s turn to choose, so we’re reading a romantasy by Kat Healy.” Arden reappeared with two cans and a bottle of rum tucked under her arm. She set them down on the kitchen counter. “Who knew a lumberjack bear shifter could be so hot?” she said as she fanned herself. “We call him a lumbersnack.”
Maren laughed. “Well, maybeEllieknows?”
Arden burst out laughing. “Oh yeah, we’re already teasing her about it. She mentioned it to Bear just so she could watch his face turn red up to his ears.” Arden opened a can of pineapple rings. “And, it’s fun to watchherears turn red when she admits her real Bear is just as hot as the fictional one.” She laughed again as she turned to Colin. “And don’t worry, Kyle already knows aboutmyobsession with the Lumbersnack.”
Maren laughed as she watchedColin’sears turn red. He took a long drink of his water and said nothing, which somehow made it even funnier.
“You’re going to fit right in at the next meeting, Maren,” Arden told her.
Maren felt her own cheeks warm. “I’d like that.”
“As much as I’d like to meet your brothers, I hope,” Arden answered as she pulled the tab and popped open the can of coconut cream. “They’re in the military, you said?”
“Yes. Marine Raiders.”
Arden looked up. “Oh, cool. I haven’t met any of those.”
“When you do, I’ll give you a hundred bucks to hand them each a box of crayons and say bon appetit.”
Arden stopped midway through opening the second can of coconut cream because she was laughing too hard. “You did not just say that about your own brothers.”
“Of course I did! They say it about themselves more often than I do. Though I do get them a crayon cake every birthday.”
Arden laughed again as she poured coconut cream and pineapple juice into a blender with half the pineapple rings. Then, she opened the bottle of rum. A funny look came over her face and she hesitated.
“Are you all right?” Maren asked.
Arden gave her a shaky laugh. “I have to confess, I smelled the rum and now I’m feeling slightly woozy.” She grinned. “Not a good woozy, a slightly urpy woozy. So…maybe mocktails instead? Can I interest you in a virgin colada? All the joy, none of the regret.”
“Honestly, I’m a lightweight on a good day,” Maren said. “I’d fall asleep on your beautiful couch before Kyle got home and miss the whole evening. Virgin coladas are perfect.”
Arden looked pleased. “Colin? I’ve got beer, too. Kyle keeps the good stuff.”
