Page 109 of Trusting Skulls

Her gaze comes back to rest on me. “Thank you for helping me. You’re the angel who’s going to make sure my family doesn’t fall into despair.”

I laugh. “Um, I hate to burst your bubble, but I’m the furthest thing from an angel you can get. I don’t think I’d even qualify as a good knock off.”

She clicks her tongue. “I’m going to have Raffe work with you on that. You’ve got to change the narrative in your head. You are not your darkness. It’s only there for contrast. To show you how bright you can shine.”

I want to argue with her, but how do you dispute someone who is older, wiser, and facing a challenge I can’t even imagine?

Her face softens. “I hope I live long enough to see you realize how beautiful of a person you really are.”

“Sure, no pressure there,” I chuckle lightly.

“Ash said you were writing a book for my granddaughter.”

“Oh, I haven’t started …”

Rachel hands me a beautiful journal with gold and silver thread sewn throughout the cover. It’s covered in butterflies and dragonflies. “No time like the present to get started.”

She smiles at me as I run my hand over it. “Okay.”

We both settle in, and I wonder if this is more of the contrast she was talking about. She’s writing of endings while I’m tasked with weaving a tale for a new beginning.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Lexie

Raffe guides us around the house, looking for Willow. He laughs. “You never know where you’re going to find this girl.”

“I’m a little nervous. I know she probably doesn’t like the fact that Ash and I are together.”

He stops dead in his tracks. “New thought. How about Willow loves her brother, and I’m sure she’ll see how much I love him too.”

“Okay, okay, I get it. You and your wife are too much.”

Raffe taps his temple. “Life happens up here. I want you to really pay attention to that.”

“I’m trying.”

He winks at me before proceeding. Chickens scurry out of our way as we head toward the barn. “Willow?” he hollers as he opens the door.

“Up here!” she yells.

“I’ve got to get back to the house, hun. I’m just dropping off Lexie. Ash will pick her up a little later. We left those baby clothes in the living room.”

She shrieks and hurries down the stairs. “Wait! I need your help.” She rushes down the steps.

Raffe chuckles and watches her with so much love in his eyes that it makes me want to weep.

“Can you move that box of books that’s on my desk to the floor?” she asks him.

He’s already headed up the stairs before she can finish.

“Thank you!” she yells after him, placing her hands on her hips. “And you, I need your help too.”

“Okay.”

She waves for me to follow her to the house. “I really want to get the nursery done before …” She stops right in the middle of the yard and begins to cry.

I glance behind us, hoping Raffe comes out soon. I don’t know what to do. “Um, hey.” I rub her arm. “Do you need a hug?”

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