Chapter 24
Rain
The car pulls up outside the house, the same one I left months ago with nothing but a note pinned to the door.
Sarah steps out first, walking around to meet me before the kids even notice where we are.
"Are you happy, Rain?" she asks, her eyes moving over my face, searching for the truth beneath whatever I might say.
I look past her shoulder at the house, at the porch light already on even though it isn't dark yet, and I nod. "Yes, Mama. I am happy."
She studies me a second longer, then pulls me into a hug, holding on tighter than she needs to. "That's all I wanted to hear," she murmurs against my hair.
She pulls back, presses a kiss to my cheek, and turns to wave the kids out of the back seat. "Go on, then. Give your mother a hug."
Rose is the first one out, running straight for me without a second look at the house. Samuel follows slower, his bag over one shoulder, his eyes lifting to take in the building in front of him.
He stops walking.
"Wait," he says, his voice small. "We're back home?"
I nod, reaching for his hand. "Yes, baby. We're back home."
His eyes dart toward the front door, and that's when he sees him — Cody, moving around the dining table inside, setting down plates one by one, unaware that he's being watched through the glass.
Samuel doesn't move for a long moment. He just stands there, staring, like he needs to make sure it's real before he lets himself believe it.
Sarah climbs back into the car behind us, rolling the window down. "We'll call you tonight," she says, offering a small wave before the car pulls away from the curb.
I turn back to Samuel. He's still staring at the door.
"Come on," I tell him gently, tugging his hand. "Let's go inside."
He looks up at me, something uncertain still sitting behind his eyes, and then he starts walking — a little faster with every step, until by the time we reach the door, he's pulling me along instead of the other way around.