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Art’s hand twitched reflexively on my shoulder, and I reached up to squeeze it gently.

“That would be sad. Want to go put her back where you found her so she can find her way back to them?” Merry nodded enthusiastically, then turned and darted back the way he’d come, sand flying behind him as he raced up the beach.

“I’m glad you found your way back to us,” Art whispered in my ear, wrapping his arms around me from behind after he’d helped me to my feet.

“Me too,” I replied, crossing my arms over his and gripping his forearms tightly. “I won’t run away again, I promise.”

Art hugged me close. “It’s okay if you do. Whatever you need. We’ll always be waiting when you’re ready to come back to us.”

I spun around in his arms and reached up to pull his face down so I could look him in the eye as I spoke. “I’m not going anywhere, Art. I’m sorry it took me this long to get over myself and my fears, but I’m all in. You, the kids, the chaos, the joy, the uncertainty. I’m here for all of it.”

His eyes filled with tears that he blinked away as he let out a long slow exhale. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than I am right now.”

I grinned up at him. “Me neither.”

“Daddy! Daddy! Can I have a shoulder ride?” Merry cried, running up to us, empty-handed this time.

“Sure thing, buddy,” Art replied, turning away from me to ruffle his son’s hair. “Maybe Meggy can help us. What do you think?”

Merry nodded sagely. “That’s a good idea. So you don’t hurt your back this time.”

Art laughed, kneeling on the ground and leaning forward. “Exactly.”

Grabbing Merry around the waist, I hoisted him onto his dad’s shoulders, then put my hand under Art’s elbow to stabilize him as he got to his feet.

“Giddyup, horsey!” Merry cried, drumming his feet against Art’s chest. With a grunt, Art pinned his son’s legs against him. Merry’s high-pitched giggles highlighted Art’s low rumbling laugh as they galloped away.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Viv sidled up to me and slipped her hand into the crook of my arm, resting her head on my shoulder just like I’d done to her father.

“I’m glad you came back, too,” she said, not looking at me.

“Me, too,” I replied, pulling my arm out of her grasp and wrapping it around her shoulder. She stiffened, then relaxed into my awkward side hug. “I wasn’t gone very long, but I really missed you guys.”

“I’m sorry I messed things up again. It’s what I do best,” she muttered, kicking at the sand with her toes.

I stopped walking and turned her to face me, putting my hands on her shoulders and ducking my head so I could look her in the eye. “Viv, you didn’t do anything wrong. Your dad and I had a… misunderstanding that had nothing to do with you or Rory. If anything, it was my fault.”

She blinked at me, the heaviness in her eyes clearing as she processed my words. The shy smile blooming on her face grew as she studied my face and found no hint that I was lying to protect her. “You really mean it?”

“I really mean it,” I said, nodding.

“What was your misunderstanding about, then?” she asked, still looking a little worried.

I smiled grimly. “Well, you know how I’m always telling you that you have to feel your feelings?”

“Yeah,” she answered warily.

“I tried running away from them instead,” I said, flashing her a wry grimace.

Viv barked a surprised laugh. “And did it work?”

“No ma’am. It did not.” I laughed. “But this time I think I’ve finally learned my lesson.”

THIRTY-ONE

Owning a cookie shop was everything I’d hoped it would be.

A wide range of customers stopped by every day, some for Fiona’s tea blends, which she’d been selling to people directly, mostly by word of mouth, for years.