Page 221 of Ice Darling
And, in every single page, the people have faces with smiles on them, the sky is blue, and the little crayon-drawn stick girl is never alone.
By the last page of the journal, I feel emotions forming a lump in my throat and tears pressing the backs of my eyes. Rather than let them out, I take both of Cordelia’s palms, bend my head fully over, and kiss her on the backs of her hands.
She sniffles. “Renthrow.”
“Thank you,” I whisper hoarsely. “Thank you for coming into our lives. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for saving my daughter.”
Chapter Seventy-Five
Sasha: I cleared my schedule. I can be there for the meteor shower party.
Brenda: Is it a party? I thought it was just camping.
Sasha: Darling, I’m not sleeping on the hard ground in the outdoors at this wonderful age. I’ve got a plan.
Brenda: By chance, have you run that plan by the kids?
Sasha: Why would I do that? Telling people beforehand takes all the fun out of a surprise.
Brenda: I like the way you think, Sasha.
Sasha: I am rather brilliant. And don’t worry, Operation Ring Pop is a go. I have a plan.
Brenda: Did we settle on Operation Ring Pop? I liked Operation Down The Aisle more.
Sasha: They both need some work.
Brenda: How can I help with the plan?
Sasha: It’s simple, really. Let me share the details in a call.
Epilogue
Cordelia
“Be careful, Gordie!” I yell as the excited little girl surges ahead, unmindful of the rocks, twigs, and other dangerous obstacles scattered in the forest.
Renthrow laughs at me.
I give him the stink-eye. “What’s so funny?”
“Gordie’s been hiking out here since before she could walk,” he tells me. “She’ll be fine.”
I duck as a bug comes flying straight past my face. “Ugh. Nature.”
“Don’t you work outside?” Renthrow points out, holding up a tree branch, so I can pass.
“Yes, in a nice part of town. Not in the woods.”
“Says the woman who loves riding her motorcycle in the hills out here,” Renthrow teases, offering his hand and helping me step over a mossy stone.
“Key word ‘riding.’ I don’t get off my bike to enjoy nature. I admire the beautiful scenery as a blur, the way it was meant to be admired.”
Renthrow shakes his head and gives me a bemused smile.
Up ahead, Gordie shrieks, “Grandma Sasha!”
“Grandma Sasha?” I murmur in shock.
