Tears streamed freely down Erin’s face, but she nodded solemnly. “That was our daughter. Too good for all of us.”
I let out a rough chuckle. “Believe me, I know that. Amara was a better person than I ever was. I’d like to say I would’ve done the same thing. Asked her to move on so she wouldn’t be alone, but I’m a selfish bastard.”
Bo barked out a laugh at my curse, but Erin just grinned. “Frankly, so are we. Because we would do anything to get our daughter back. I think that’s why we stayed away so long. Because I’m not good at this, Brooks.”
“I don’t think you’re supposed to get good about grieving. About figuring out who you are now. But you’re welcome to stay for dinner. Hell, you’re welcome to stay here at my place if you don’t want to go back to the hotel. Especially because it looks like it may, hopefully, rain soon.”
Lightning crashed through the room, and we each jumped.
“That sounded pretty close,” Bo said, and I nodded.
“Too close,” I said, looking off into the distance. Everybody should be safe inside Rory’s house, but I was still worried.
“Who was that woman?” Erin asked, and I looked towards the woman who had raised Amara, unable to read her face. That was usually the problem with Amara’s mother. Because I couldn’t read her usually. It wasn’t that she was judgmental or mean; it was that she was hurting. And wanted others to hurt too. Not out of callousness but because she needed others to feel her pain. So she would lash out at those she knew could take it, meaning I wasn’t going to let her do the same to the woman that I loved.
“That’s Rory. The woman that I’m seeing. Those girls are her nieces. She’s raising them after her sister and brother-in-law died earlier this year.”
Erin put her hand over her heart, as Bo let out a grunt of pain.
“I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to tell you. I don’t want to hurt you. But I thought you should know the truth.”
“Do you love her?” Erin asked, and I met the other woman’s gaze, knowing lying wouldn’t help.
“I do. I never thought I was allowed to. I thought that this would be it for me. Waiting until it was time for me to see Amara again. But that wasn’t fair to her or me. So yes, I love Rory. Though I haven’t told her yet, so if you guys could give me the grace of time for that, that would be wonderful.”
“Oh, Brooks.” Tears filled her eyes as she moved forward. I flinched when she cupped my face, but she just lowered her head and let out a breath. “I’m happy for you. And broken a little. But I’m happy. You took care of our daughter when we couldn’t. When you were the only one she could hold because everything else hurt. You don’t deserve to live in pain and loneliness for the rest of your life. I know I wasn’t nice. And I have no excuse other than I was dying inside. But I really hope you’re happy.”
I looked over at Bo, who wasn’t saying anything. Instead, he looked off into the distance, his jaw tight.
“We should head out before the storm truly hits. I don’t even know why we came without warning you. I think we just got in the car, and then we were here.”
“You’re always welcome. Rory would say the same.”
“Is she living with you?” Erin asked, her voice slightly clipped.
“She lives next door. The girls needed a place to stay when they lost everything, and well, it turned out for the best.”
“Maybe one day we’ll hear more. But?—”
I turned at the look of alarm on her face and was running before I even thought twice.
“Call the fire department. Tell them that there’s a brush fire. Quick.”
“I’ll do it right now. Oh my God, are there people out there?”
“I’m right behind you,” Bo said, and I started running, my feet pounding on the deck stairs as I ran towards the sound of someone’s scream.
Flashes of Amara’s last words hit me, and I tried to push them out of my mind. I was not going to lose another person that I loved.
“Brooks! Cameron and Rory are out there!” Wyatt yelled, and I nearly tripped over my feet.
“Keep the kids back, and start working on our fire precautions to keep the houses safe. Do what you can. I’m getting the girls.”
“I’m coming with you,” Bo shouted as he ran right beside me, keeping up far more than I thought he would.
I knew he had his own demons by running with me, but we kept going.
Fire licked across in a straight line, the transformer that must have blown bursting once again into flames.
