Page 15 of By Your Side
I heaved out a relieved sigh. Briar would be okay; Grandma’s hugs could work magic. And Grandpa had been helping us solve all our problems since we were born.
Grandpa smiled, satisfied, and said to Briar. “Great.” He held out a hand. “Now let’s go eat some questionable kale salad whatchamacallit and pretend your great grandma doesn’t add raisins to everything.”
Briar grinned and followed him toward the buffet table to fill a plate.
I sank back onto the picnic bench, exhausted but a little lighter. Piper handed me a strawberry and leaned her head on my shoulder.
“We’re not going to let either one of them mess with the girls,” she said quietly. “Or Noah.”
“I know.”
She paused. “But if you need us to come up with some interesting revenge, wedohave access to a barn and an entire chicken costume from last Halloween. And Larry is usually down for anything.”
I snorted. “Don’t tempt me.”
Piper drifted off back to Ren to make s’mores, and I was left alone with my half-finished Diet Coke, the scent of firewood, and the sound of Briar laughing with my grandpa.
I should’ve felt better.
And I did. Mostly.
But under the relief was something else. A kind of tired that lived in my bones. The kind that came from fighting battles no one else saw—again and again—while trying to keep everything running and everyone smiling.
My phone buzzed in my back pocket.
I pulled it out and saw Hunter’s name.
Hunter: Just checking in. You okay?
Just two words.
But they cracked something open in me.
Not “how was the barbecue” or “what happened.” Not pushy or prying.
Justokay.
Like he could feel that tonight had cost me something.
I stared at the screen for a moment, thumb hovering.
Then I typed back.
Me: Yeah. Kids are fed. Grandpa’s mad. Family’s rallying. So… the usual. Thanks for asking.
Three dots flickered, then stilled.
Then finally?—
Hunter: Anytime you want to talk. You know where to find me.
I stared at the message long enough that the screen dimmed.
Then I hit save on the moment.
Tucked it away somewhere soft.
And went to be with my girls.
