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“We’ll have a drag first, and then you should go home.” Everest tapped his breast pocket.
Juniper’s heavy feet sounded behind us as Cedar opened the door to the veranda and stepped off to the side.
Parked on the grass, under the glow of the streetlight and leaning against his car, was Landon.
Chapter Fifteen
Landon ambled toward me, pensively but with purpose. As soon as he was close enough, he enveloped me and held me tight while my dam burst wide open once more, and the sobs detonated my soul.
“I’m sorry.” I wasn’t crying solely because of what just happened. Mostly it was because I hadn’t expected to see Landon ever again, and here he was, having driven out to the middle of nowhere. For me. No one had ever done that before.
“I don’t want to talk; I just want to get you home. Give your keys to Cedar. She’ll drive your car.”
Once I caught my breath, while Landon gave me strength, I walked over to Cedar, my sister, and set the keys into her hand. She gave me another hug, and I soaked it up. I had many years of hug catching up to do.
I broke away and flipped my gaze to Juniper, who surprised me with a weak embrace, however, it was more than I’d ever had. “Thank you.”
“Stay safe and make him proud.” Without a word to anyone else, he lumbered back to the hospice, disappearing inside. At least I didn’t get the finger from him this time, and he’d been the one to walk away.
“Everest.” I didn’t know what I wanted to say, I’d always hated goodbyes.
Everything was a swirl of emotions, a jumble of thoughts, and a mixture of uncertainty and regrets.
He tapped my nose and kissed the top of my head. “We’ll talk. Later.”
“Please come visit.” I reached for his hand, but he pulled away, giving me a brief nod.
“I need to get things settled.” There was a deepening distance as he backed away further. “Good to see you again, Cedar. When I come visit Aspen, why don’t you join us, and we can catch up?”
Her voice was low. “I’d like that.”
“Landon? Or London?” Everest asked. “No wait, it’s Landon, right?”
He nodded and held my hand tightly.
“Take care of her. She may be young and immature, and a giant pain in the ass, but she’s an incredible gift.”
“So I’ve been told.” There was a slight hesitation to his words. “We’ll see you around, Everest.”
“In due time.” With a final wave, he spun on the heel of his boots and lumbered back into the house.
When the screen door slammed, I shuddered.
“Let’s get you home.” Landon pressed against me, and I inhaled his calm demeanour.
With the weight of what still lay ahead, I climbed into the passenger seat of Landon’s car. “I need to give her my address.”
“Relax.” Landon stood beside the door. “It’ll be taken care of. Trust in that.”
My vision blurred, and I tried to blink Cedar into focus.
“Cedar will take care of it. She’s got it under control.”
There wasn’t much else for me to do. I buckled in and closed my eyes, as a heavy darkness pulled me under its spell. If Landon talked, I had no idea, but the ride was quick.
Blinking back into reality, and trying to wake up, I stared at the surroundings. We were pulling into the lit-up garage. “I thought you were taking me home?”
The garage was barren, aside from a bike hanging on the wall. Somehow, I expected there to be more of a mess, with tools hanging everywhere. Erin’s garage was packed. This was like an abandoned room in the house.
