Page 96 of A Thousand Broken Pieces

I smiled and my heart swelled. That was what we were aiming for. I had started this trip wanting to heal enough to attend Harvard to become a doctor. It was still the goal, only this time it offered me so much more than I could have ever imagined. It now offered me a lifetime with Cael. A lifetime of loving him, of being by his side.

When the plane touched down in Atlanta, I sighed in happiness at the heat that gusted into the plane when the flight attendant opened the exit door. I turned on my phone. A text from Cael immediately came through.

CAEL:

I’m here at the retreat. They take away our phones except for a few times a week. I’ll message and call when I can. I love you and miss you.

My heart fluttered. I had total faith in him. If some time away from each other was the trade-off for keeping him forever, then I could happily live with that.

I deplaned and went to collect my luggage. The doors had barely opened into arrivals when I heard, “SAVANNAH!” I looked up just in time for Ida to come crashing into my arms.

I laughed as she jumped and threw her arms around my neck. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed. We laughed, and the sound was a symphony to my ears.

My sister.

My little sister.

Ida smacked a kiss to my cheek. “I’ve missed you so much!” she saidand moved back. Her mouth dropped open dramatically as she surveyed me. “You look incredible, Sav!” She leaned in close. “Is this because of Cael?”

I laughed at her suggestive face. I had missed her. And not just on this trip. I had missed her for four years. I hadn’t let her in. That would change from now on.

“I’ve missed you,” I said and pulled her back to me. “Sorry for not being there for you.”

Ida inched back and met my gaze. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “Are you back?” she asked tentatively.

“I’m back,” I said, relief and promise in every word.

“I have my sister back!” she said dramatically, then kissed my cheek.

It felt glorious.

“Honey!” My mama’s arms were safe and warm as she swallowed me in a hug, and my daddy wrapped his arms around us all, Ida too.

He kissed my hair. “All my girls, back on home ground.” I knew he meant Poppy too, who was waiting for us in the Blossom Grove. Months ago, those words would have broken me. Now? They were perfection.

“Let’s get you home,” Mama said, and Daddy went and collected my luggage. I smiled as the Georgian sun kissed my face, the warm breeze wrapping around us as it whispered, “Welcome home.”

Home. There was nothing quite like it.

In the car, Ida regaled me with every bit of her life since I’d been gone. As we entered the house, a million memories swirled around me. If I closed my eyes, I could almost hear the echo of three young girls laughing, chasing one another up the stairs. It was heavenly. My heart swelled when I realized I could walk in this home and feel comforted by the memories of Poppy here and not be paralyzed. It was once again my sanctuary, not my prison.

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