Page 83 of Sanctuary

“It’s going to be a while before I’m fit to set out on the road again full time,” Aidan says with easy nonchalance. “So I’ll have to settle somewhere until I’m back to full strength. If you’d like me in Monument, then that’s where I’ll be.”

He’s answering Del, but his eyes shift to my face. It’s obvious to all of us who theyouin his last sentence is.

“You should definitely come back with us,” I tell him, no hesitation about this question. “As soon as you’re able to travel, we’ll go.”

Aidan’s expression relaxes, and he grins over at Del. “Well, there you have it then. I’ll see you both as soon as I can.”

Del leans over and kisses his cheek. “I know you haven’t wanted to hear thanks from anyone, but I’m going to do it anyway. Cole told me what happened. How you risked your life to save him. And I’ll never stop thanking you for that.”

My chest is tight with emotion as Del straightens up. There’s a faint tear streak on her cheek.

Aidan mumbles something wordlessly, clearly uncomfortable.

Del understands. She’s smiling as she steps back from the bed.

Cole hasn’t said anything the whole time they’ve been in here. He’s simply not a talker, and he’s been quieter than usual after his brother’s death. Del told me that he needs to grieve, but she thinks it’s actually better for him this way. At least he hasclosure with Mark now. And he was able to get his brother back at the very end.

He steps over now and reaches out to grip Aidan’s one good hand.

Aidan returns the gesture, acknowledging the other man’s thanks.

Then Cole touches me lightly on the shoulder as he passes by. “We’ll see you at home.”

I smile, wondering if I can dare hug him. I glance over at Del, who gives me the silent okay.

So I hug Cole and then Del again before they both leave.

I stretch out on the bed beside Aidan. He reaches over his body to take and hold my hand. Our twined hands rest on his belly.

Maybe I should say something now, but it doesn’t feel necessary. So I don’t.

I hold Aidan’s hand until I fall asleep.

It’s another two weeks before Aidan is well enough to travel, and even then our trip to Monument takes longer than a week, since we can’t go as far each day as we normally would have. Aidan can’t walk as fast as he used to, and with only one hand he needs help with his cart any time we go uphill.

I don’t care.

Aidan hasn’t gotten an infection. His more minor injuries have almost fully healed. The stump where his hand was is still bandaged tightly, but it’s healing too. And he’s so happy to be back on the road, even though he’s not yet at his full strength.

I’m happy too. Happier than I knew it was possible for me to be anymore. It’s not like all the pain I’ve lived through has beenwiped away, but it finally feels like I have a chance to move past it. Live a life where it isn’t always haunting my steps.

I’m not there yet, but maybe I can be.

That hope is more than I ever believed I could achieve, and I’m still not sure how I’ve gotten here.

I’m also happy simply to be with Aidan. To know he loves me and that he’s never leaving—not unless I ask him to.

Which I’m never planning to do.

We get to Monument just after noon, and we head directly to the cottage I share with Del and Cole. For now, Aidan will live there too.

Eventually, I’d like for Aidan and I to get our own place and let Del and Cole have the cottage, but since I haven’t even managed to tell him I love him yet, that might be a bit premature.

Aidan is smiling as we walk the last stretch up the side street toward the cottage, both of us pushing the cart.

“You look happy,” I tell him.

“I am happy. It… it keeps surprising me since I didn’t think I was capable of being happy after my family died. I fell into a tolerable routine, but I wasn’t ever happy.” His hair is gilded gold in the bright sunlight. “Not until I met you.”

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