Page 22 of Call It Home

“Hey,” I protested. “I’m not that bad.” Which made everyone laugh, including Mac.

Others in the family offered their own well-wishes and teasing until there was no more of the bubbly to toast with.

I hugged Chase. “Thanks for that.” I knew he’d understand what I meant, that he’d eased the sadness with a little humor.

Everyone laughed and drank. A perfect way to end our last evening here.

* * *

Reid closed the door on the back of his sheriff’s SUV as I settled into the back seat next to Mac. He and Bristol were driving us to the airport about an hour away. “Ready?”

“Yes!” I almost shouted.

Mac gave a much quieter nod. His knee bounced up and down as he scrolled down on his phone. “You okay?” I asked in a more subdued voice. I’d tried to go to sleep as soon as I got home from the party, but I had been too keyed up to sleep well, my mind going through every scenario, trying to think if I’d forgotten anything, then it flooded with new scenarios about what it would be like when we got to Colorado.

“Just checking my emails.”

“Anything from Trey?”

A faint smile hovered around his mouth. “Yeah. He wishes us luck and said if I really wanted to make his day, I needed to be sure to screw something to the floor.”

“Huh?”

He chuckled. “When I was first learning to build something—I don’t remember what, a table maybe—I used too long of a screw. But I only realized it when I tried to move it and discovered I’d accidentally attached it to the floor. He’s never let me live it down.”

I tipped my head, thinking there had to be more to Trey than just the fight he’d been in. “He sounds like a good brother.”

“The best.”

The SUV pulled down the road. Instead of taking an early exit, I noticed Reid decided to go through the center of town. It was longer, but I was happy to get one more look at my hometown. It might be quirky, but I loved it.

As we entered the roundabout that went around the town hall, Reid flipped a switch, turning on his lights. A loud roar sounded through the windows.

“What on Earth?” I peered through the window to see dozens of people, maybe over a hundred, cheering and holding signs that wished us good luck. “Oh, wow! Reid, do we have time to stop for a minute?”

“We do.”

I climbed out and spun in a circle, waving to everyone before going over to the sidewalk to thank everyone. This must be what it felt like to be a celebrity.

“Attention, everyone.”

The crowd slowly quieted down and turned toward where Mayor Bowen stood in the little fountain area in the roundabout. Mayor Sterling’s cage was right next to him with the door open and Sterling, his head held high, perched on the rungs that were covered with a piece of red felt. I guessed it was the bird kingdom’s version of the red carpet.

He gestured for Mac and me to join him. “Cameron and Mac, we here in Sterling Mill want you to know that we’re proud of you and know you’re going to represent our amazing little town in a fantastic way. We all wish you the best of luck, and whatever happens, we know you’re already winners. Let’s hear it for Cameron Allen and Mackenzie Caldwell from Sterling Construction! Hip, hip, hooray!”

The crowd repeated the cheer and clapped enthusiastically.

“Squawk! Go team!”Our town mascot fluttered his wings on the open door of his cage, then spread his wings and soared toward Bristol, who fed him a tiny piece of apple once he settled on her arm.

“Mayor Sterling has a little something for you,” she said to me. Sterling bobbed his head as she held him close to me.

He whistled a catcall, then nuzzled his beak against my cheek. “Muah,” he cried.

I patted him on the head. “Thanks for the lucky kiss, Sterling. I might miss you most of all.”

“That’s Mayor Sterling.Squawk!”

Bristol walked him over to Mac, who was watching with a small smile. Bristol whispered something to the parrot, then Sterling danced a little dance with his feet on her arm before he called, “Pucker up, big boy. Give me some sugah.”

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