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She eyed her sister, wanting to throw her arms around her and beg her to never leave again.
“Are you back for good?” she asked, trying to keep the hope from her voice.
Rose nodded. “I guess so, no plans to go anywhere else. I’m here to make amends. I want to hear about your life.”
Relief flooded Rebelle but she didn’t know what to say to that except, “You left.”
“I did.” Rose’s lip wobbled and it took everything in Rebelle not to wrap her in a hug. Which under different circumstances would have made Rebelle laugh thinking back to how she used to hate touching others. “And I have regretted it for years. I didn’t know how to come back after running away and leaving you. Then I heard you got married and probably wouldn’t have wanted to see me anyway and I got scared that you moved on and didn’t need me in your life.”
“Are you kidding? You’re my baby sister, I will always need you. Ihaveneeded you,” Rebelle said, softly. Thinking again how ironic it was that she used to believe she didn’t need anyone.
“I’d like to earn a place back in your life, if you’ll let me?” Rose asked, biting her lip, her voice trembling slightly.
Rebelle came around the bar and stood in front of Rose, her eyes rushing over her sister’s face and taking in every nuance like she didn’t have exactly the same features. She pulled her into a hug and squeezed tightly. Rose grunted but wrapped her arms around Rebelle and squeezed back just as fiercely.
Rebelle wasn’t sure which of them started crying first only that when they pulled away, they both had tear tracks down their cheeks. She cleared her throat and grabbed the bottle of scotch, pouring them another three fingers each and gestured to a booth.
“I think it’s time we had a proper catch up, sister to sister.”
*
When Rebelle finally got back to the trailer, after situating Rose in one of the cabins at The Rusty Bucket Inn, she found Will on the deck, looking at the stars.
She stumbled over to him, the scotch sloshing in her belly.
He spotted her, his lips lifting in that iconic smile. “I’m gonna play it cool and pretend I haven’t been out here riddled with anxiety for you.”
She snorted. “You’re too cute.”
His eyebrows winged up. “You’re drunk.”
“You’re fully clothed.”
His laugh boomed out, louder in the still night. He gifted her with a lazy smile. “Come ’ere.” He opened his arms and she fell into them, nestling herself against him. He kissed her temple and she closed her eyes, breathing in his salt and sandalwood scent.
“How did it go?”
“Fine, she’s fine. I think she needs mending. She wants forgiveness.”
“Can you give her that?” he said, his lips moving against her skin.
“Of course, I’d give her anything she wanted. But I think she needs it from herself.”
“So, what are we gonna do now?”
“She wants a couple of days to settle back into the town so we’re gonna stick to our plan and go open that new shelter, wherever it is. Then when we get back, she and I’ll be ready to start trying to build our relationship, I guess.”
Will squeezed her tightly. “Sounds good to me.”
“Thank you for bringing her back to me,” she whispered.
“I’d do anything for you.”
She leaned back and looked up at him. “Then can we go to bed now? I want to unwrap my Christmas present.”
He groaned and pressed his lips to hers, chasing away the chill from the winter air. He lifted her into his arms and carried her inside. Although they had expanded the shelter, they were both happy to continue living in the small home. It had everything they needed: room for fur babies and room for each other.
Will took her into the bedroom and fell back onto the bed, Rebelle bouncing on top of him. She dragged off his sweatshirt and his hands worked to pull her sweater over her head but she stilled them.
