Page 44 of Bound in Ashes

The man I’d found it with.

Jack climbed down the ladder first, and looked up as I climbed down, always watching, always ready.

When my feet hit the ground, he pulled me against him.

Gave me one more kiss.

Hand in hand, we walked out of the barn.

He was still here.

We were still together.

For now, that was enough.

SEVEN

Asia

“Morning!” I said as I padded into the kitchen.

It was stuffy, the windows were shut, but everything else felt like home. The smell of coffee—Aunt Kathleen’s life source, as she had liked to call it—and the noise of people moving around the house. It put me back in the mind of a teenager.

Back then, this place had been a sanctuary for kids who’d lost their way and were looking to scratch out some kind of life. It wasn’t really so different now.

“You’re up early,” Uncle Levi said.

He was dressed in flannel and heavy canvas work pants, and it struck me that I seldom remembered him dressing in anything else, even on those oh so rare occasions that Aunt Kathleen had gotten him to go to church. I appreciated that familiarity now. Welcomed it.

“Well, I’m not a kid anymore. Gotta get up and at ’em, like somebody used to say,” I said, smiling softly.

“Good morning,” Bridget said from her usual perch at the stove. She wasn’t wearing any makeup but looked refreshed.

“Should I ask what’s for breakfast?” Lourdes asked as she came into the kitchen.

Bridget laughed. “You can ask, but I think you know the answer. Besides, it shouldn’t matter too much. It’s not like you’re distracted and burning unnecessary energy while all this is going on.”

Bridget was focused on the stove, her face relaxed. She slipped her gaze to mine for a moment. The intensity I saw there made me flinch, but I blinked and shook it off, refusing to let misplaced guilt do me in.

Thankfully, Lourdes chuckled. “Right. Eggs and ham for us. Oatmeal for Uncle Levi.”

“Yup. Same as it’s been for the last week,” Bridget said.

“Probably not nice to say, especially since a few weeks ago we almost cried over a jar of pickles, but I’d love a frozen waffle. And not even the good kind. The cheap cardboard ones,” she said.

As we laughed, Caitlin walked in, Elliot two steps behind her.

But I didn’t really pay attention to either of them, as the air stirred around me in a way that told me that Jack was close.

I looked at Lourdes. “I’d trade my kingdom for some cereal. And I don’t even like cereal,” I said.

“Maybe on Sunday, I can make chilaquiles,” Lourdes said.

“Oh, Lourdes, you don’t have to do that,” Bridget said quickly. “You all do so much around here. I’m happy to do my part. Now grab a plate before it gets gold. Levi, here’s your oatmeal.”

We settled at the table while Jack leaned against the wall. “Miles is still outside?”

Jack nodded. “Wanted to finish setting up the rain barrels.”