Page 96 of One Last Chance

“Forgiveness. Focus. Faith. Focusing on regret keeps you entangled in sin and darkness and futile thinking. But God says, ‘Let me forgive you of your pride. Put your eyes on me and my love, and trust that I have good waiting for you.’ That’s joy. And that’s how your regrets lose their grip.”

Axel finished off the water. Looked at Moose. “Is that how you live with Aven’s death?”

Moose drew in a breath. Smiled. “Trying.”

“Mm-Mmmhmm.”

“Listen. I like Flynn, and I’m happy to see you happy. But don’t for a second think that your happiness is going to last without getting free.”

“Wow, thanks. I’ll be sure to send you a wedding invite.”

Moose smiled. “What are you talking about? I’ll be your best man.” He got up and opened the door.

Dodge had come over. Stood on the tarmac. “I’m heading back to Sky King Ranch. My dad called, said there’s another storm coming. I didn’t see it on the radar, but he’s watching the weather so . . .”

“I’m right behind you,” Moose said and climbed out to get into the front.

London joined him, pulling on her earphones. She handed back a chocolate bar. “Get your sugar up.”

Axel took it and let the chocolate dissolve as they took off. Moments later, Dodge’s plane passed them.

Axel closed his eyes, Moose’s words rattling around inside.

Maybe, if he was honest, he’d been angry for a long time. At himself, at God. And yeah, maybe it was arrogant to think God should have done something different. Or that Axel could have stopped Aven’s murder. Or, well, saved any of the other rescues that had gone south.

Which did sound a lot like pride, too.

Out the window, the sky had turned a deep blue, the clouds fewer here, the sun shining into the valley, turning it a deep, rich green.

“Joy is . . . it’s a state of being. It’s living in the place where you know that you’re loved by God, that he is at work in you, and that you can trust his control.”

Sheesh,he’d said almost the same thing to Flynn.

“If we’re really honest, God saved me.”

He drew the blanket around himself. That wasn’t the only confession . . .

Because at the end of the day, his greatest fear was anyone finding out that hewasn’tenough . . . and he was going to let them all down.

They landed, the plane already parked on the tarmac. Moose shut down the rotors, and Axel opened the door.

He caught Moose. “Maybe let’s not tell Flynn . . . just . . . let’s . . .”

“I got it.” Moose held up a fist. “What happens on Denali stays on Denali.”

Axel bumped it and dropped the blanket into the chopper. He’d give his life savings for a hot shower.

But as he came to the house, Flynn appeared at the back door, her face so stricken he slowed.

Moose, behind him, did the same.

Flynn launched herself at Axel, her arms around his neck, holding on so tight they cut off his breath.

“What—what is it?”

She leaned back even as Moose walked past them, shot him a grin.

“Don’t do that again,” she said to Axel.

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