Page 121 of Tracking Safety

She held out her hand, and Luke slid the ring back onto her finger. His hands weren’t quite steady. Neither were hers.

She took the other ring from his palm and slid it onto his finger. “There. It’s back where it belongs.”

Luke stared at her, his heart racing out of control. He still couldn’t believe she was here. That she still loved him.

He scooted closer and cupped her face in both hands. For a moment he just held her there, taking her in—the woman he’d spent two years believing he’d lost, close enough now that he could feel her breath against his wrist.

“I thought I’d never get to do this again,” he said.

“I know.” Her voice came out unsteady. “Me either.”

Then he kissed her, slow and certain. Whatever he’d been holding back all this time went into it—every night he’d lain awake wondering, every prayer he hadn’t known how to finish, every mile he’d have crossed to find her if he’d only known where to look.

She kissed him back the same way, one hand fisted in his shirt like she didn’t intend to let go again.

When they finally broke apart, neither of them moved far. He rested his forehead against hers and stayed there, breathing her in, learning all over again that she was real.

“You’re really here,” he said.

“I’m really here.” Her thumb moved along his jaw. “I’m not going anywhere. Not ever again.”

Freya lifted her head, glanced between them once, and settled back down against Jenna’s hip with a sigh, as if she’d just confirmed something she’d already suspected.

The sun cleared the ridge fully, gold pouring down over the porch, over the two of them, over a night that had nearly taken everything and somehow hadn’t.

EPILOGUE

A month had passed since the fire. Enough time for the scorched stretch of woods to start going green at the edges again. Long enough for the cottages to stand finished against the tree line instead of half-framed.

Long enough for Caleb and Millie’s wedding day to arrive.

Rows of white wooden chairs faced the pond, white ribbon looped along the backs of the first two rows. Somewhere near Luke his mother was already crying into a tissue she’d brought specifically for this purpose.

Wyatt stood on Caleb’s other side, and Wes had taken the spot beside him.

Luke stood up front with his brother, who’d straightened his collar four times in the last two minutes and was working on a fifth.

“You’re going to wear a hole in that collar,” Luke said.

“Can’t help it.” Caleb grinned, wide and a little dazed, like a man who couldn’t quite believe his own good luck. “I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and none of this happened.”

“It’s happening. Millie is coming down that aisle in about five minutes.”

“Five minutes.” Caleb let out a breath, more excitement than nerves. “This five minutes feels longer than anything I’ve waited for in my entire life.”

Luke knew that feeling better than anyone here. He let his brother have the moment.

Down by the porch, Naomi stood in her pale blue bridesmaid dress with Micah’s hand resting at the small of her back.

Even from here, Luke could see her turning her hand to catch the light off a ring that hadn’t been there a month ago.

He hadn’t gotten the full story yet. He’d only heard something about Micah asking the night before and her saying yes before he’d even finished the question.

He’d eventually hear what exactly happened.

For now it was enough to watch his sister stand a little straighter than she used to, like something in her had finally been allowed to settle.

Three weeks ago, Sissy had admitted she’d been threatened. That was the only reason she’d said the Hardings could have custody of Grace. There was enough evidence now against the family that there was no way they’d get custody.