Page 155 of One Last Chance

He wanted the happy ending.

“Besides, we had fun, but we’re not . . . we’re not right for each other.”

“Axel can’t panic every time I go monster hunting. Can’t be there to rescue me. It’s not the life he wants to live.”

Except that was the life he wasalreadyliving.

“Don’t apologize for doing what God created you to do.”

“It’s over, so I just have to live with that.”

“Do you? Just because you thought of your life one way doesn’t mean that God can’t change course. He knows our hearts better than we do. It’s probably good to listen.”

He stared at her, hearing Alicia’s words.“But with God there are no what-ifs. There is only truth. And the truth is that you’re not in charge, God is, and no matter what happens, he is good.”

“What do you want me to do? Get on a plane for Minnesota? Declare my love for her?” Okay, that was a little overstated.

London grinned and gave Shep a shove. “You owe me money. I told you he was in love with her.” Then she turned to Axel. “What doyouwant to do?”

Honestly?He sighed. Looked away. “I want to know that if I reach out to her, she’ll reach back.”

“Someone has to move first,” London said. “Someone has to be the one with faith.” She glanced at Shep, before looking away and taking a sip of her coffee.

Huh. But,“You want real peace, real happiness, then it’s time to have some faith. That’s where you find peace.”

The first runners climbed up onto the ridge, out of breath, and London set her thermos down, picked up a harness, and walked over to them.

Shep watched her go, then looked at Axel. “The question is, Axel, will you regret it if you don’t try?” Then he picked up another harness and followed her.

The question hung in Axel’s head all afternoon, dogging him as he checked in competitors, affixed harnesses, oversaw the rappelling, and made sure the day spooled out without any accidents.

But that was it, wasn’t it? Regrets.

He didn’t want to live with regrets. With what-ifs. Didn’t want to spend his life circling, wondering.

The last of the competitors reached the summit, rappelled down the cliff, the sun still doggedly hanging on to its position above the Alaska Range. He helped his team pack up their gear, then loaded it into the chopper when Moose set down on the wide ridge area. Axel decided to hike back to camp with the Pathfinders while Shep, Boo, and London flew back to Copper Mountain.

Wilson had acted as if he hadn’t accidentally tried to kill Axel, and hiked down the mountain with his grandson. When they arrived back to the campground, he broke camp with the rest of the youth group.

He left with Laramie for the festival in town.

Axel dropped his gear off at his house, plugged in his dead phone, then took a shower.

Then he headed to town for the festival.

But all the while, in his mind, he was booking a ticket to Minneapolis. Because . . . faith. And maybe a little hope. And . . .

And thiswasn’tthe story of Jack and Rose but of Axel and Flynn, and if he had only one life left, he didn’t want to live with the what-ifs haunting him.

Not anymore.

He parked the Yukon and got out.

At the end of town, near the river, the bonfire blazed, and onstage a local band warmed up for the main act, Oaken Fox.

He’d have to swing by and say hi.

He stopped by Northstar Pizza and grabbed a takeout slice, then wandered over to the stage area and spotted Oaken standing with Boo, talking with Moose and Shep. He walked over, held out his hand. “Oaken.”

---