Page 77 of Endlessly Yours
Cameron screamed, tripping over her feet. I tugged her up, ignoring the tears streaming down her face and the blood on her knee.
“We need to get going,” I called, knowing we were too far away from the house for anyone to hear us over the lightning and wind.
But the smell of smoke hit my nostrils, and then the fear set in.
Because there was no rain, only lightning and fire.
And as I coughed, Cameron doing the same, I pulled her close and skidded to a halt as the fire surrounded us.
“Aunt Rory!” Cameron called.
“It’s okay. We’ll be okay,” I lied. “There’s a gap over there. We’ll get through, and I’m sure the others are on their way and called the fire department. Just keep your head down and stay close. I’ve got you, Cameron. I am not letting you go. Ever.”
The fear in her gaze didn’t subside but she nodded, the trust in her eyes nearly sending me to my knees. And now I had to pray to whatever gods were listening that I hadn’t truly lied to my niece about everything.
Because the others couldn’t see us, and the fire had spread far too quickly.
And the only thing I could think of as I pulled Cameron close, keeping her face away from the flames, was Brooks, and hoping to hell he’d find us. I refused to let the man I love lose anyone else, nor would I let Cameron get hurt.
So we did the only thing we could.
We ran toward the edge of the flames… and prayed.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
BROOKS
I stared at Erin and Bo, wondering what I was supposed to say in the situation. It had been a couple of years since I had seen Amara’s parents, and while I wasn’t displeased to see them, I was still shocked.
“Bo, Erin, can I get you guys something to drink? Coffee? Tea?”
Erin shook her head as she looked past me, her eyes narrowed.
“No, we’re fine. We’re staying at a hotel downtown because we just needed a trip out, just to get out of our city. Sorry, we didn’t call ahead.” Bo frowned. “I see we should have.”
The censure in his tone wasn’t lost on me, but it had been over four years now since Amara had died, and I didn’t know the right number of years to mourn, the appropriate time it was to move on. Because grief wasn’t static. Nor did the phrase ‘move on’ make sense. Because you weren’t leaving anyone behind. You were just a different person.
“I’m glad you’re getting out. Though it’s a bit of a stormy day, not quite good for touristy things.”
“I see you’re having a barbecue,” Erin said, her voice clipped.
I looked at the woman who had cried in my arms when we had finally said goodbye to Amara and then slammed her fists into my chest because I allowed my wife to sign a DNR. Bo had understood, had calmed his own wife down, but things had been strained in the past few years. It wasn’t that we disliked each other. It was just awkward to be in a place where the one person that connected us was no longer here. And I didn’t need them, and they didn’t need me.
Which was a sad state of affairs.
“My brother, his wife, his kids, and my friends were here. Before the storm came in, it was a good day for a barbecue. We made extra. You’re welcome to stay.” I paused. “We would like you to stay.” It was honest too. I didn’t resent them. How could I? They had given me one of the most special people of my life. Their daughter. I wasn’t going to resent them. I couldn’t.
I just had to navigate these murky waters I had never expected.
“Oh, I don’t know if we should,” Erin said after a moment before she let out a breath and set down her bag. “We should have called. I’m just not good at this, Brooks. You were our son, and then the world changed, and I don’t know how to talk to you without bringing back all of those memories.”
I swallowed hard and did the one thing that I knew how to do. I moved forward and took her hand, trying not to break in the process.
“You don’t have to say were… If you want, I will always be your son. Amara didn’t choose to go just as much as we didn’t choose to let her go.” Bo let out a shaky breath next to me, but I continued. “I love your daughter. I will always love her. But I made a promise to her, one that has taken a long time for me to truly realize what that promise meant.”
“What are you talking about, Brooks?” Bo asked, his gaze intent.
And as I let out a breath, I told them of a promise I had made their daughter. One that had slowly broken me before I had realized what exactly it had meant.
