Page 139 of Carson

We walk hand in hand back to my parents’ house.

“I love that Mila thinks of them as her grandparents. It’s all so strange yet wonderful how our lives have been connected by a string for longer than you and I have known each other.”

“It is.”

She pulls me to a stop before we round the bend. She closes her eyes, listening to the girls’ giggles. My dad’s uproarious laughter. The crackle of the fire Rage has no doubt built for them.

Her head tips back and she takes a deep breath, inhaling the scent of flowers and smoke.

“I don’t want to forget this moment,” she says.

The stars begin to emerge. They shine brightly against her dark eyes as she continues to look heavenward.

“Me either,” I say.

She looks at me, and peace settles over both of us.

“I’m so glad I chose you … this.”

She smiles.

That alone is enough for me.

Chapter Forty-Six

Luna

Ilisten as Dan makes his rounds through the house. It’s predictable, and safe.

He checks on my sister and Khloe. They’ve been sharing a room since my brother arrived. I’m a little sad that they’re leaving in the morning, but Rage needs to get back to his wife, son, and club. I know I’ll see them soon though. He’s already made plans to come back in a few months for the lantern festival the club has every fall.

When he finally makes it to my room, I close my eyes, letting him go through the motions one last time, but tonight when he goes to the door, I speak.

“Dan, can I talk to you for a minute?”

He turns around, and I can see he already knows.

I pat the spot beside me on the bed and then sit up. He sits down beside me.

“I just wanted to thank you for everything, but …” Tears are streaming down my cheeks, because this is much harder than I thought it would be.

“But you’re ready to go home.”

“I am.”

He smiles at me and wipes my tears away with his big hands. “No need to cry. You’re just up the road, remember? You can come here anytime you want. This place will always belong to you too.”

“Cole decorated the cabin with some of my things. Did you know that?”

He shakes his head. “No, I didn’t, but it sounds like my boy.”

“I’m scared.”

Dan takes my hands in his. “Change is always scary, but just think about the reward when you get to the other side.”

“In one of my mom’s visions, she saw you with a little girl in the garden. She told me you were signing to her. She said it was your grandchild … hers too.”

His eyes widen in surprise and I laugh, because I don’t think it’s often you can surprise this man. He’s seen a lot in his life.