Page 99 of Unstable

“Oh, well then,” even Bri laughs along with the rest of us at that one, “I feel so much better now. Thank you for abstaining, honey.”

“You’re welcome,” Brooke chirps, and slips Bourbon another bite.

“Anyway, as we were discussing,” Bri reels us back in on topic. “We’d be ready to move in thirty days. That’s the required notice on our current place. And, of course our goal is to eventually own, but right now, renting is the only realistic option. With Brooke in school, I’ve returned as well, to work on my veterinarian license. That will take me a while, so Mike’s income is all we have at the moment.”

I can feel Keaton’s gaze on me without looking away from Bri. He knows precisely what I think about what she just said—a veterinarian. The one thing I had mentioned this town needed.

I have to ask.

“So, when you’re licensed, do you plan to open a clinic here in Ashfall?”

“Yes, definitely. Not only is it crazy we don’t already have one, but we want to keep our roots planted here.”

Keaton chuckles. “Bri, you have no idea how happy you’ve made my Henny. She’s about to plumb burst, ‘cause she was just griping not too long ago about the same thing, no clinic here.”

“I wasn’t griping,” I mumble, “but I was commenting on the insanity of it. I can’t wait for you to open a place. You’ll no doubt be highly successful with that.”

“I sure hope so,” she smiles.

“With Mike working and you going to school, who will work your farm?” Keaton asks.

With merely a quick side-glance, Bri hands this one to her husband to answer.

“I’m hoping that working a farm will be my job,” Mike states.

“And I’m hoping to be his handy-dandy farmhand,” Brooke adds.

“As far as rent, I’d feel more comfortable if you proposed that number. I don’t want to insult you, or overshoot myself in the foot.” Mike shallowly laughs at the end, diverting his eyes for a split second.

“I don’t even know which farm we’re considering,” Keaton raises his eyebrows at me and smirks. “So now I’m passing it back to Henny.”

I take a deep breath, then another, still needing more. “I…just need a final minute, to consider everything. I swear, I won’t be long and this will be the last time I make you wait.” I stand, stopping Keaton with a hand on his shoulder when he tries to do the same. “Brooke, would you like to go see those horses now? If that’s okay?” I ask her parents, who both nod.

“Yes!” she shrieks, jumping out of her chair.

“Alright then,” I laugh. “Let’s go. We’ll be back soon.”

AS WE DRIVE TO the horse barn, I think back to what my mom said in my dream—about giving this house another chance to make a new, whole family happy.

They are the perfect family to choose.

And I have, in my hands that were useless for so long, the power to change their lives. To give this little girl, with her face currently pressed to the window in anticipation, a great chance at a gloriously happy childhood.

We pass by the farmhand cabin and I think of Gatlin. I wonder where he is right now, praying it’s somewhere of his dreams, and he’s happy there. Such an intricate part of my life, even in what short amount of time he was in it. He left an impact that helped me heal, change, forgive…and live again.

If life truly has any hand in destiny, and doling it out deservedly—Gatlin, wherever he may be, is happy.

When we pull up to the barn, Brooke jumps out of the truck and takes off running so fast it scares me.

“Sweetie, wait for me. I need to turn on the lights and be right beside you. Horses can get spooked easily.”

“I know. Walk up to them slowly on the front left side so they can see me and don’t stare in their eyes. And talk nicely, tell them I’m coming.”

Damn…this kid.

“That’s all exactly right and very smart, Brooke, but I’d still like to be with you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She stops cold and waits for me.

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