Page 71 of Saving Her Heart
"She's a menace. But she is cute in a weird, goat sorta way."
Hudson approaches with Kate. "Hey, we're organizing shifts for overnight security. " You can't be too careful with William out on bail."
The mood shifts immediately. "He's out?" Kendall asks.
"As of two hours ago," I admit. "But he's being watched, and he’s wearing an ankle monitor. You don’t have to worry."
"He burned down my building!"
"And he'll pay for it. But right now, we focus on rebuilding."
She wants to argue; I can see it. But then Mrs. Parsons walks over with Gertie, and the goat immediately tries to eat Kendall's clipboard.
"Gertie says it's time to go home," Mrs. Parsons announces. "She has a strict bedtime."
"Of course she does," Kendall says, scratching the goat's head. "Thank you for coming, Mrs. Parsons."
"Oh, I wouldn't miss it. Harold always said you were special. Said you'd take care of everyone." She pats Kendall's hand. "He was right."
As the memory care van takes them away, Kendall wipes her eyes. "I'm not crying."
"Of course not. It's just construction dust."
"Exactly."
The crowd thins as night falls, but the core group remains—our friends, our chosen family, the people who've been there through everything.
"Tomorrow we start actual construction," Sawyer announces. "Eight AM sharp."
"I'll have breakfast ready," Kate promises.
"The FBIs will provide security," Gladys adds, still wearing her plastic badge.
"That's really not necessary—" Captain Ramirez starts.
"It's happening," all four Walking Ladies say in unison.
He gives up. We all learned a long time ago that arguing with them is pointless.
As everyone disperses, Kendall and I stand looking at the cleared lot where Building 3 will rise again.
"It's going to be better," she says. "Stronger. Safer."
We drive back to her apartment—our apartment now—and for the first time since this all started; it feels like things might actually be okay. Well, William's out on bail, but he's contained. Morrison and Brad are in custody, Valerie's cooperating withauthorities, and the town has rallied in a way that makes me proud to wear this badge for this town.
"Thank you," Kendall says as we pull into the parking garage.
"For what?"
"For being you. For choosing us this time."
"Every time," I promise. "From now on, every time."
Tomorrow there will be more paperwork, more investigations, more challenges. But tonight, we're home, we're safe, and we're together.
And for now, that's enough.
Chapter 15
