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“I love you, Ruby,” he says when he pulls back. Visibly overcome, he presses my hand over his heart, and his piercing blue eyes stare into mine. “From this heartbeat until the last, I am yours.”
The seriousness on his handsome face has me losing it all over again. I sniffle and bring my hands to my face. Charlie gathers me in his arms.
We sit here in the quiet. The kind of quiet that speaks volumes. I can hear it in the rumble of Charlie’s breath. Feel it in the curve of his kiss. Our fears. Our pasts. Our future.
And then I start to cry again, but I smile through my tears, because I know what we have, and I know what we are.
Lucky.
The luckiest hearts alive.
“You okay?” Charlie asks as he helps me out of his truck.
“I’m okay.” I give him a bright smile. “I’m ready.”
So ready.
For a long second, I stand in his gravel drive, hands clasped to my chest. The sight of the ranch, of his cabin, brings tears to my eyes. Sunlight streams over the pasture, but the air is cooler than when I first arrived back in June. Closing my eyes, I inhale. I drink it in. I let the sunlight bathe my skin. After being in the hospital for so long, even just walking on my own two feet is heaven.
I feel reborn.
Resurrected.
Home.
I am home.
“Sunflower?”
I look up at Charlie. His intent gaze hasn’t left my face. “Yeah, Cowboy?”
“C’mon, baby. Let’s get you inside.”
He offers me his hand and I take it. Slowly, side by side, we walk up the porch to the front door of his cabin. A riotous cheer goes up the second we step inside the kitchen. My mouth drops.
“Out,” Charlie thunders.
“Shhh,” I giggle, slapping his bicep.
Everyone’s here. Fallon and Stede with pies from The Corner Store and a growler of beer from Nowhere. My father and brother, their bags packed and ready to head to the airport later. Tina and Chef Silas. And, of course, Charlie’s brothers. They pour out whiskey and coffee in Styrofoam cups.
My flowers from the hospital have been rescued. They sit on the counter, on top of the fridge, in the hallway. Daisies, sunflowers, peonies, violets.
My heart feels so airy, so light.
My family.
My favorite sides of my life, getting along with each other.
Charlie stares at the surprise intruders, looking like he wants to boot them out on their ass. He hasn’t let me out of my sight since I woke up.
“Welcome home,” Fallon says, tackling me with her hug. When she pulls back, she scowls at Charlie. “Relax, big guy.”
Davis kisses my cheek. “Welcome home.”
I blush.
Wyatt slings an arm around my shoulder. “You know you’re like a ghost now, Fairy Tale.”
