Chapter Thirty-Six
Jenny
My neighbor, John, and I sit in his truck as the fire department douses what’s left of my property with water.
After an hour or so he looks at me and says, “Why don’t you come stay with my wife and me? We’d love to have you while you rebuild.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I’ve reunited with my son. I’ll … well, I’ll call him.”
His eyes scan my face for the truth.
“My family will take me in,” I promise him. “I … I don’t think I’ll be rebuilding.”
“Jenny, you’ve been here a long time.”
“I know, but I think this was a sign.”
He sighs. “But if they don’t …”
“You’ll be the first person I’ll call.”
We watch as smoke billows from the ground. “Your friend Bill gave me a number to call if you ever got in trouble. I called it on my way over here. It was a woman. She said she had everything handled.”
I laugh lightly. Of course Bill left me with an insurance policy. “Was her name Jesse?” I ask.
“It was.”
I don’t have the heart to tell him that her way of “handling it” was setting my house on fire.
“That was Bill’s daughter.” I try to muster the best smile I can. “Could you give me a ride to the cemetery … one last time?”
He smiles sadly. “You’re not coming back here, are you?”
I shake my head. “No. It’s time for me to go home.”
He sighs but nods.
“I just need to grab something. I’ll be right back.” I scoot Garfield off my lap to the middle of the seat.
As I’m taking the wind chime down, I scan my gardens. This hurts more than I could have ever imagined. Honestly, I never thought I’d leave this place. I was sure I would die here … alone.
When I get back in the truck, John places his hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure about this? The offer to come home with me still stands.”
“I’m sure,” I say, tugging Garfield back to my lap.
I watch the world go by as John drives me home.
Jackson and my mama are going to be so happy. My mind drifts to Raffe. He’ll be happy too. Just the possibility of their happiness gives me the courage to do this. I need to look at it as a rare chance for a grand rebirth. A chance to look at everything with fresh eyes. I’m getting a do-over.
It doesn’t make it any less terrifying.
John refuses to leave until I call Jackson. When he hears the love in my son’s voice, he relaxes in the seat next to me.
“Thank you for everything,” I tell him as I get out.
He nods his head toward Garfield. “That old cat was one of Bill’s best ideas,” he says.
I knew it. “It was,” I agree, stepping away from the truck.
I give him one last wave before closing the door. It takes everything in me to walk away. It takes even more when the gravel crunches beneath his tires as he drives off.
I walk up the hill, pausing by Bill’s headstone. “Thank you for sending me an angel,” I say, feeling his presence now more than ever. “She set me free.”
I kiss my fingers and then press them to his stone before heading over to my own. My eyes scan Rachel’s for a moment before I lie down beside her. I tip my head back and stare at my name.
After a few seconds, I turn my attention to the sky above me. “Thank you,” I whisper to the girl below me. “You saved my life, and now that I’m finally home, I’m going to do everything I can to get you back to yours.”
My eyes fall closed, and my mind begins to drift.
“Close your eyes,” Raffe says, brushing his hand down my face.
I’m so scared. Not scared. I’m nervous.
His hand rests against the side of my face, his minty breath teasing my nose. “Just pretend you’re sleeping beauty, and my kiss is going to bring you back to life.”
Normally I would giggle at something like that coming from him, but this is different. He’s really going to do it. He asked if he could kiss me, and I said yes. Now here we are.
“Are you ready?”
“Just do it already,” I say impatiently.
He chuckles, setting every cell in my body on fire.
I sense someone kneeling beside me, their face lowering close to mine. His scent wakes up all of my senses, and it takes everything in me to keep my eyes closed.
“Just do it already,” I tell him.
His abrupt intake in breath tells me he wasn’t expecting my comment. His chuckle is deep and rich, and it curls my toes. When he cups my face, he doesn’t hesitate. His lips follow a mere second later. His kiss is confident and calm. He’s happy to see me.
I open my eyes as he pulls away, and he smiles. “What are you doing here?” he asks, helping me to sit up.
Jackson suddenly appears, taking my other hand. My face heats, and he laughs. “Don’t worry about it, Mom. I’m just happy you’re here.”
I push myself from the ground, and again they give me a hand. “I don’t know where anyone lives, so I came here.”
Jackson releases me but his father does not.
“Not to complain, but why are you here?” Raffe asks, keeping his arm securely around my waist. We both look down as Garfield weaves himself between our legs. “You brought your cat?”
“There’s nothing left,” I choke out, suddenly overcome with emotion at the thought Garfield and I are so far away from our home. He’s never left our property.
“What do you mean?” Jackson asks, standing in front of me.
“There was a fire … it’s gone. Everything is gone.”
My son and his dad look at each other still confused.
“My home. It’s burned to the ground.”
Both of their mouths fall open slowly before snapping shut. “You can come live with me,” both of them say simultaneously.
Oh, oh, I didn’t think this through!
Where the hell am I going to live?