Page 189 of Where Broken Wings Fly
“Well enough. It’s so quiet up here. I don’t want to leave.”
“We could grab Arianna and retire to the mountains. I was serious about that.” He chuckles. “Frankly, I’d be fine without seeing another human for the rest of my life.”
“I agree with you on that, but somehow, I doubt your twin brother and grumpy cousin would be okay with us running away. Unless they could also come with us.”
“There’s plenty of wood up here for Killian to chop like a lunatic.” Micah pauses to sip his coffee. “And I’m sure Zach can find some trouble to get into even up here.”
“He usually does. It’s his best talent.”
“We could build a huge log cabin and properly live off the land. Grow old together and watch the sun rise every single day for the rest of our lives.”
“That sounds so peaceful.”
“Doesn’t it?” He sighs.
Letting my eyes shut, the dream-like world he crafts with his words tugs on my heartstrings. I can picture my life so clearly now. That was a luxury I never allowed myself to even consider before.
Killian, Zach and Micah all play their very important roles in that hazy vision of hope. I need our family more than I need air in my lungs to breathe, and the way they’ve accepted me and Arianna into their lives gives me hope.
“I want that with you guys,” I admit softly. “I want a future here in Briar Valley. I want us to be safe, and to find our forever.”
“You have us.”
“For now.”
“Forever,” he corrects.
“I wish I could believe you, but I’ve come to realise that life is fleeting. Nothing is guaranteed in this world. All we have is this moment.”
Micah gently kisses my hair. “That’s why you have to hold on, angel. Hold the hell on and never let go of those who matter. We can make it. I know we will.”
Biting my lip, I watch the mountains come to life around us. “I hope you’re right.”
Finishing off our coffees, I get dressed and slowly pack up all of our equipment while Micah dismantles the tent. We’re ready to start the long hike back to town by the time the sun has fully risen.
I have to get back home for Arianna. I’ve never spent so long apart from her before. I love my daughter more than anything, but this break was needed. Sometimes, I need to be just Willow for a few hours.
Descending the steep mountain slopes in contented silence, our hands are tightly entwined to safely traverse the tumbling rocks. At the base of St David’s Pointe, we begin the hike back into the valley.
The heat has calmed down a little, leaving comfortable warmth behind. When we emerge from the forest and spot Lola’s cabin emerging in the distance, my smile fades.
There’s nothing worse than returning to the problems you’ve been running from. I wish I could bottle the peace we found in the mountains and keep it with me as a reminder.
Micah tugs me to a halt. “Willow.”
“What is it?”
His smile is dazzling. “Thanks for last night. It meant a lot to me.”
“I should be thanking you. It meant everything to me. I love you.”
We fall into another windswept kiss. The feel of Micah’s lips consuming mine obliterates all of the dread blooming in my heart. Our kiss ends when the sound of laughter reluctantly forces us apart.
“Hi, lovebirds!”
Albie’s truck is parked outside Lola’s cabin, and he hops out with a stack of paperwork and mail in hand from his usual trip into Highbridge. His smile is far too fucking wide.
“Says the man canoodling with my grandmother!”
