Page 151 of The Grand Rise

He steps toward me. “You me and both,” he says contemplatively. “You want my blessing, Lance?”

I tighten my jaw, not realising how badly I need the right answer from him.

He throws his hands out at his sides and shrugs as if it’s obvious. “You have it. Of course you have it. Scarlet would be lucky to have you, and so are we.”

My brows lift, and he grins.

“You thought I’d say no?”

“No. I just never thought you’d ever think yourself lucky to have me as a part of your family.”

“Well then, you’re as fucking stupid as you look because you’ve been a part of this family for a long time now.”

He goes back to unpacking the books, unaware of the feeling whispering beneath the skin on my chest. “Thank you, Mase.”

His eyes lift to mine, head still bowed. “Thank you for asking. It means a lot.”

I nod. “Any advice?”

Mason smiles, starting a new row with the classics. “No advice. I’m still fucking up three times a week. I wish you all the luck in the world, though.”

Scarlet

If I could wish for one thing for all of the children in this world, it would be for them to have the safety and freedom to run.

I remember the feeling. The wind on my face as I’d try, with all my might, to keep up with Mason and Elliot. Early mornings, mid-afternoons, late evenings. We’d run through the fields from one home to another with no idea of the time, only the sun to dictate our path. And we wouldn’t look over our shoulders or care for anything else in the world.

Nothing was bad back then.

Only good.

“This is so much fun!” Elsie squeals, her voice jarring with every bump we hit.

I hold her tight on my lap, the little girl inside of me gleefully smiling along with her as Lance speeds up the caddy, pulling the broken, plastic half barrel we found and attached with rope, along behind him.

The rest of the children all run alongside us, their happiness reminding me how damn lucky we are.

“Faster. Faster,” Elsie chants.

Lance looks back at us, laughing when I shake my head “no” at him.

We’re supposed to be setting up the last of the lanterns for the ball tomorrow, but with all of the children here this weekend, including Nessa-Anne and Chloe’s children, it was easy to get a little sidetracked out here on the meadow tonight.

I can hang the lanterns once they’re in bed—after memories have been made.

Somehow, maybe lost in translation, Lance doesn’t catch my “no,” speeding up the caddy and pulling Elsie and me at a pace Lucy would lose her sweet little mind over. “Lance!” I yell.

“Faster!”

“Elsie, no,” I scold, not helping the ache in my laughing cheeks. “Oh my god.”

“Faster!”

I feel every mound of mud as if it’s a rock beneath my ass, thumping and bashing against the plastic barrel. Still, I can’t stop the rush of endorphins the feeling of being so silly and reckless brings me as we fly through the meadow.

When Lance eventually comes to a stop, he jumps out of the caddy and jogs back to us, helping Elsie out before reaching down a hand to me.

“With Elsie on my lap?” I ask. “Lucy would kill you if she could’ve seen.”

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