He turned and smiled at her, his eyes shining.
“You’re not just moving to Georgia, Reva. You’re taking a part of us with you and planting a piece of Thunder Mountain there.”
The crowd roared with applause. Kids whistled. Someone blew a kazoo off-key, and Reva laughed through the prickling behind her eyes.
Then Verna Billingsley bustled up to the stage, her tight bun wobbling as she adjusted her glasses with flair.
“I hereby declare,” Verna announced dramatically. “That Reva Nygard shall henceforth and forevermore be known as Honorary Citizen of Thunder Mountain, with all privileges and pie discounts therein!”
She unfurled a glittery certificate and pinned a gold ribbon to Reva’s shirt. The whole town burst out laughing.
“Pie discounts?” Reva said, clutching her sides. “Now that’s a deal I’ll take.”
When the laughter faded, Reva stepped to the mic. For a moment, she couldn’t speak. She looked out over the sea of faces—Capri, Charlie Grace blinking fast against tears, Lila holding tight to Whit’s hand, Jewel twirling in circles near the bandstand.
She swallowed hard. How could she possibly say what this place had meant to her?
“I don’t have a fancy speech,” she said finally, her voice trembling. “How could I ever express what I’m feeling right now—what you all mean to me? And, how hard it is to say goodbye? All I have is a heart that’s full to bursting. These many years in Thunder Mountain have been the pinnacle of my existence, the heartbeat of my soul.”
She paused, steadying herself.
“This town, these mountains—all of you. You’re stitched into me. I’m better because of you. And wherever I go, I’ll carry you with me.”
The silence that fell was thick and reverent, broken only by the soft clatter of a breeze shifting through the cottonwoods.
“Thank you,” Reva finished simply. “Thank you for being my home. And we’ll be back as often as we can visit. You can count on it!”
The crowd erupted again—cheering, clapping, stomping their feet in the grass.
And standing there in the warm sunlight, the laughter and music swirling all around her, Reva knew once again she wasn’t leaving Thunder Mountain behind.
She was taking the town—these people—with her, tucked safely into every beat of her heart.
28
Morning light slanted through the wide windows of Reva’s living room, illuminating the half-packed boxes stacked along the walls. The house, usually so full of life and laughter, felt strangely hollow, like a song winding to its final note.
Reva knelt by the couch, wrestling Lucan into his sneakers while he chattered nonstop about the adventure ahead.
“We’re gonna see Grandma’s big trees,’ he said, swinging his legs. “And pecans! And armadillos!”
Reva smiled as she tied his laces. “That’s right, baby. Lots of new things to see.”
Kellen appeared in the doorway, car keys in hand. “I’ll start loading the truck. Holler if you need me.”
She nodded, watching him disappear down the hall, the weight of the day pressing heavier on her chest.
Before she could gather her thoughts, a soft knock sounded at the door.
When she opened it, she found them—Capri, Charlie Grace, and Lila—standing on the porch, bundled against the morning chill, coffee cups in hand.
“Figured we wouldn’t let you get away without one last ambush,” Capri said, grinning.
Reva laughed, ushering them inside. “You didn’t have to come this early.”
Charlie Grace shrugged, her eyes suspiciously bright. “Yeah, we did.”
They wandered through the half-empty living room, pausing at boxes ready for the movers marked Kitchen, Books, Lucan’s Room.
