The wind hammered the cabin, rattling the windows and throwing the rain so hard it sounded like rocks pelting the tin roof. Jase scowled, rubbed his freshly shaved head, and pulled his raingear on over his clothes. Of course, a storm would roll in just when he’d changed his mind. He wasn’t taking the bus out of town. As he crammed the last of his stuff into his pack, then tied his work boots to it, he wondered if he should let Aisha know—then decided against it. She might take it as evidence that he wasn’t serious about getting his life on track and coming back to her. And really it was the reverse.
If he bussed, he had to leave Q.T. and Cedar behind. Jo said she was happy to adopt them, but that had been the word that decided him. She was obviously skeptical about whether he’d return as promised, and they were his dogs.
If he walked and hitched, he could take them. And if rides proved impossible and the walking got too much, he’d bite the bullet and buy a beater of some kind.
He was never going to desert someone he loved again, not out of fear, not because it was easier, not because he didn’t know what else to do—and that included his dogs.
Leaving River’s Sigh was different. Hard as it was, it was actually moving toward something—toward being the kind of man that could make a home with Aisha and Mo. If they’d still want him. He tried not to think about the other possibility, but it was almost impossible not to.
Not knowing how and if things would work out as he wanted felt like another loss already. He did one more cabin check to satisfy himself that he hadn’t forgotten anything and that it was immaculate, then he swallowed hard.
Hefting his backpack, he opened the door and whistled for Cedar and Q.T. Rain came off the porch’s tin roof in a solid sheet, obscuring his view. He stepped through it and moved down the stairs, grateful for his hood at least. It was going to be a long night. He whistled again.
Above the noise of the downpour came a crashing rustle from the rain-soaked bushes. Then Cedar and Q.T. bolted toward him at full speed—such good dogs! But wait, he’d praised them too soon. They stopped abruptly, then turned and galloped down the path into the shadows beyond the cabin’s light. What the—
A giggle and shriek he’d recognize anywhere carried to him. “Cutie!”
He strode toward the sound.
All at once, Aisha was on the path in front of him, carrying Mo. They both looked like they’d been dunked in a lake fully clothed and their hair streamed water. Aisha set Mo down, where she fell into helpless giggles as Q.T. licked her face with manic delight. Jase thought dogs had it made; they could be as free with their emotions as they wanted and no one ever thought less of them.
Cedar, already as steady and reliable as her name, seemed equally pleased to see her girls, but had better restraint and manners than her brother. She stood there smiling and whipping her tail back and forth like a cheerful flag.
And Jase? Well, he felt as breathless and thrilled as Q.T. to get to see Aisha and Mo one more time before he left. He wanted to zip around with goofy happiness too, but alas, no matter how he wished he was different, he was closer matched to Cedar personality-wise. He settled for, “Hey, what’s up?”
“A lot, actually,” Aisha said.
Something in her voice shouted, “Good news,” though Jase couldn’t explain what exactly, just felt it. He smiled. Then he grinned. Maybe he had some Q.T. in him, after all.
“You decided not to take the bus!”
“Well, yes, but—”
“It’s like you’re reading my mind.”
It was? If so, he’d obviously forgot what page he was on.
“I thought you were going to kiss him and tell him not to go!” Mo said in a stern, reminding tone.
Aisha looked down at her daughter, then up at Jase. “Don’t be bossy, Mo—but yes, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
She launched herself at Jase, and he caught her. He couldn’t make sense of a single thing that was happening, but as she wrapped her legs around his torso, clasped his face in her hands and pressed her mouth to his, he didn’t actually care.
“Ugh,” griped Mo. “You kiss like Cutie!”
Aisha pulled away, laughing. “We do not!”
Still holding her, Jase smiled against her shoulder, then whispered, “I’m definitely not complaining, but I am confused.”
Aisha pressed her forehead against his. “Don’t go, Jase. I can’t bear—I don’t want to bear—losing you.”
“You won’t. I’ll be back. I promise.”
“Stay. We’ll sort out our lives together.”
Jase was silent. Maybe for a beat too long.
“I mean, if you want to.” Aisha bit her lip, looking up at him.
Jase still couldn’t speak. He just hugged her tightly.
“I, I . . . ” he finally managed, speaking into her hair. “That’s all I want.”
Aisha leaned her head back so she could peer up at him. “Whatever happens, with Emily, with Bonnie, with anything else, going forward, I’m your home, Jase. Me and Mo. River’s Sigh. You are home.”
Only Aisha would know out of anything he could ever want to hear, how much that would be it.