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His handshake is firm but brief.

“Sorry about D.”

Three words.

Nothing else.

Somehow they’re enough.

“Thank you.”

The little boy beside him peeks around his leg, and I smile down at him.

“And you must be Liam.”

He hides again.

Asher’s mouth twitches.

“Takes him a minute.”

“That’s okay.” I shift Noah higher against my hip. “Sometimes it takes me a minute too.”

That earns me the smallest smile from Asher.

Then I notice I’m missing someone here…

“Wait.” I look around. “There’s supposed to be another one.”

Lily laughs.

“Jace. He’s finishing his last rodeo season.”

“The bull rider.”

“Unfortunately,” Lily mutters.

“Mama,” Cas says.

“What? I gave birth to him. I’m allowed to hate watching him get thrown off bulls.”

Fair enough.

“He’ll be home soon,” Josh says as he finally makes his way toward me.

Damiano loved this man, and when Josh stops in front of me, I suddenly understand why. For a moment, he doesn’t say anything. Then his face softens, and he pulls me into a hug.

“Been wanting to see you again for a long time, darlin’.”

And there it is.

The ache.

I let go and smile.

“I’m sorry I didn’t really talk at the wedding or the funeral, but it was all so…” I take a breath. “I feel like I know you all after the thousands of stories Damiano told me.”

Josh smiles. “Knowing D, I’m sure half of it was bullshit.”