4. Thaws Silent Threat #3
Cara stepped closer, watching the golden syrup ribbon into a small bowl with open fascination, as if Addy had suddenly mastered alchemy right there at the counter. "I've never... had anything like this before."
"Trust me," Addy said, plating the first steaming stack, "you're about to fall in love."
Cara hesitated over her plate, hovering her fork as if she couldn't decide how to begin. Addy sat down beside her and nudged her elbow.
"Go on. First bite has to be with syrup."
Cara cut a tiny piece, dipped it lightly, and brought it to her mouth. Her eyes widened instantly.
"Oh," she said, covering her mouth as though she'd sworn by accident. "Oh, this is... this is wonderful."
"Told you," Addy said, glowing with pride.
Cara took a bigger bite. Then another. Then she stared down at her plate like she had years of lost pancake time to make up for and intended to start immediately.
"I understand now," she said. "Why you wanted us to have a good breakfast."
Addy smiled. But when Cara looked at her again—really looked—Addy caught the flicker of worry hiding behind that brave expression.
The fear she kept trying to bury. The knowledge that tomorrow morning, Cara would step out into a broken, dangerous world without Addy beside her, without Sawyer watching her back.
Addy reached out and touched her hand gently. "Everything is going to be okay," she whispered. "We're going to be okay."
Cara's nod was sharp, her throat tight. "I know. I just... I wanted this morning to last a little longer."
Addy squeezed her fingers. "Then let's make it last."
And together they ate warm pancakes drenched in sweet "tree sugar," letting the simple comfort hold them before everything changed again.
Morning arrived too fast.
Dawn hadn't fully broken; everyone moved quietly, almost reverently, as though a loud sound might shatter the fragile control holding them all together.
Cara stood near the door, her packs already strapped and waiting. Seth checked the rifle slung over his shoulder for the third time in as many minutes. Jay tightened the straps on his boots, his eyes distant—already halfway down the road in his mind.
Addy hovered near the stove, hands twisting the ends of her sweater.
Jay stepped forward first, wiping his hands on his jeans. "All right," he said. "We should get moving while there's light."
Addy crossed the room so fast it startled him, throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing hard.
"No hero shit, Jay," her voice was a fierce whisper. "Just... come home."
Jay closed his eyes and hugged her back, gentle but sure. "I will. I promise."
Cara wasn't prepared when Addy pulled her into an equally fierce embrace. She froze at first—still learning how to accept this kind of open affection—but Addy's warmth and the tremble in her arms slowly coaxed Cara into raising her own and hugging back.
"You keep him alive," Addy murmured, her voice thick. "And you come home alive too. I mean it."
Cara nodded against her shoulder. "I will."
Sawyer stepped forward, his expression a mix of pride and dread. He shook Jay's hand, then pulled him into a rough, brief hug that was over almost before it began.
"Bring them back safe," he said. "And yourself."
Jay clapped his shoulder. "Count on it."
Sawyer turned to Seth last. The two men shared a long, wordless look before Sawyer extended his hand.
"You watch his six," he said. "He watches yours. That's the job."
Seth took the handshake firmly. "Done."
"I know," Sawyer answered, and he meant it. He saw the resolve in Seth's eyes.
Cara knelt to scratch Watch between the ears. His tail thumped a frantic, uncertain rhythm against the floorboards. "Guard them," she whispered. "Good boy."
Watch whined softly and pressed his forehead against her knee, as close to a promise as a dog could offer.
Finally, Jay opened the door. A sharp bite of morning cold swept in, carrying the scent of frost and damp earth. The world outside waited, quiet and expectant.
They stepped onto the porch—Jay in front, Cara close behind, Seth last. Addy and Sawyer stood framed in the doorway, arms around each other, watching, hoping.
Jay lifted a hand in a small wave. Addy raised one back, already crying softly against Sawyer's shoulder, while he stood immovable beside her, eyes fixed on some point past Jay's shoulder.
They walked toward the SUV and trailer, boots crunching through the thawing snow, packs shifting against their shoulders. Every crunch of their boots felt unnaturally loud in the stillness.
Once inside the vehicle, Jay started the engine. It rumbled to life beneath them.
This marked the beginning.
First stop: a car lot for a second vehicle and all the fuel they could carry. After that, the long road to Denver. It was farther than any of them had ventured since the world fell apart, and the thought settled like a stone in her gut.
Jay exhaled slowly, gripping the wheel with both hands. "Ready?"
Seth nodded. So did Cara, though her fingers trembled once against her knee before going still.
The SUV rolled forward, tires biting into the thawing dirt.