Page 88 of Perilous Healing

Her beautiful little face turns red, and her eyes fill with tears as she races toward me. “Uncle Lassy!”

I drop to the floor, catching her as she throws both arms around my neck. My body still aches from the beating I took first from Yarrow, then the explosion, but it’s worth every second of pain.

My throat tightens, tears burning in my eyes as I hold on to the little girl that may not be mine by birth but is mine in every other way. My sweet girl. My life.

“Nugget, I missed you so much.”

“I missed you, Uncle Lassy. I thought you might not come back.”

“Nugget, I will always come back for you.” I pull her away just enough that I can cup her little face and brush the tears from her cheeks. “I love you so much, honey.”

“I love you, too.” She beams at me, then her gaze turns serious. “What happened to your face?”

I laugh, recalling just how rough I looked in the mirror this morning—bruises, cuts, one eye bloodshot. “I had a bit of an accident. But I’m okay.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, Nugget. I’m okay now.”

Lance comes out of the hall and smiles at me as he wraps an arm around Eliza’s shoulders. “It’s good to see you, brother.”

“You, too. You know,” I say to Eloise, “I brought someone else too.” Bianca steps into the house wearing a yellow sundress with small white daisies all over the fabric. Her dark hair is down and loose around her face, her smile bright.

“Bianca!” Eloise yells, then wiggles herself out of my grip.

Bianca kneels just in time to catch the excited Eloise as she throws her arms around her. “I missed you so much, kid.”

“I missed you too! You were gone for so long.”

“I know.”

“Guess what?”

“What?”

“We had another storm! Not as bad as before, but it was scary, and I remember your roof fell in, but we went and checked, and it was okay.”

Bianca beams. “Thank you. I’m not even sure how to repay you for being so awesome.”

“You can come color with me later.”

“Done.”

With Eloise giving Bianca attention, I shift mine to Lance. “Can we talk?”

“Of course.” Lance kisses Eliza on the side of her head and walks down the hall into his office. I follow, shutting the door softly behind me. “Is everything all right?”

“A lot happened to me when I was over there. A lot changed.”

“Bianca?”

“Yes.” My cheeks heat. “That relationship is still new, but that’s one of them.”

“What else?”

“I found God,” I tell him, unsure how else to put it. The statement feels so simple, yet the power it carries is stronger than anything I’ve ever felt.

Lance’s expression turns absolutely thrilled, his smile brilliant. His own eyes fill. “Welcome home, brother.”

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