Page 87 of Embers

“I know it’s a good thing.” Faith is shaking her head wryly. “Although how I’ve come to be saying such a thing about you going off to live with Cal, I really don’t know.”

I laugh at that, flushing with pleasure at hearing her speak so casually about why I’m packing up my stuff.

Cal and I are moving back to our cabin. It’s time. I’m not just ready. I’m so excited.

“I know you were really mad at him. I was too. But he’s changed a lot. So have I. And I really do think it’s the right step for us now.” I’m not used to being so earnest—with anyone but Cal—but Faith is one of my best friends, and I want her to understand.

“It is the right step. I can see that too. And, believe it or not, I think I’ve actually forgiven him. I’ve seen how he is these past two months. He’s definitely changed and not only because he’s been so happy. He’s just… better.”

I nod, wanting to respond but having trouble thinking of anything to say.

To my relief, Anna moves us past the moment. “So do you have any plans to join the baby fever that’s been going on around here lately?”

It’s not really a baby fever. But Kate and Miguel had a healthy baby boy a month and a half ago, and two other couples at New Haven are pregnant.

Grant and Olivia are pregnant too, but that’s not supposed to be public knowledge yet.

“That’s not in our immediate plans although we’ll take whatever comes,” I tell her with a teasingly disapproving glare. “I know it sounds weird since we’re moving in together, but that’s not a new thing for us. It’s our home, and we’re just going back. Otherwise, we’re still taking it slow without a lot of pressure.”

“Oh please,” Faith says. “That man is completely besotted. You don’t really think he’s taking it slow, do you?”

“Not with our feelings.” I feel myself flushing again. “But with our plans. We’re going to go back to what we were doing before. Doing jobs for folks who need it and otherwise living life on our mountain. But we’ll be seeing y’all plenty. We’re definitely not planning to be strangers.”

“You better not be.” Anna looks so happy for me. It’s really quite touching to see.

“We don’t want to be isolated again. Neither of us wants that. So we’ll definitely be coming around a lot.”

There doesn’t seem to be more to say, and my stuff is all packed up. So I give hugs to Faith and Anna, and they both walk me out to the front porch.

Cal has pulled his truck around. He’s got my motorcycle and crates with our chickens in the back, and he comes up the steps to take my stuff from me.

We say goodbye, and I’m unexpectedly emotional as he drives us down the familiar route to the gate. Jackson is there, and he calls out a friendly greeting as we wave and pass by.

Cal drives us until we’re out of sight of the farm, and then he pulls to the side and puts the truck into park. “You still wanna do this, baby?”

“Yes! I do. I promise. I have absolutely no hesitations. I’ll just… I don’t know… miss them all, I guess.”

He reaches out to cup my face. “We’ll come see ’em whenever we want. It’s not gonna be the two of us all alone. Not this time. I don’t want that either.”

“I know you don’t.”

“And if we decide we don’t like it—or if only one of us doesn’t—we can come back here anytime. I talked to Jackson. He said we’re always welcome.”

“I know. Faith told me the same thing.”

Cal searches my face. “So we’re good to go home?”

“Yes. We’re good. That’s exactly what I want.”

He leans all the way over so he can kiss me softly. “All right, baby. Then let’s go home.”

EPILOGUE

Five Months Later

I reach downto plant a hand on the top of the cab of the pickup to brace myself against the bumps in the road. Mack isn’t driving very fast, but the roadways are getting increasingly worse as the years go by. This one is so filled with potholes that eventually Mack veers over and drives on the weeds and grass beside it since it makes for a smoother ride.

We’re back home in our region of Kentucky now, but we’ve been driving since this morning, returning from escorting a resettlement trip. In all that way, we saw no other vehicles on the road other than a group on old bicycles. There were some hikers, but otherwise the roads are almost empty now.

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