Nine Months Later
Quinn folded her hand inside Jacob’s and they strolled along the grassy path. “Have I ever told you this was where I met your mom when we were kids?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
Quinn pointed. “It was on that swing right over there.”
The park had been maintained by the town over the years, but decades of consistent use had worn down almost all of the toys on the playground. Rusted slides. Eroded flecks of rubber on the swings. In an effort to preserve Evie’s memory, Quinn had created a fundraiser over the winter. The amount raised was substantial, enough to revitalize the park with an array of modernized toys, benches, and even a lighted gazebo.
She was proud of the achievement, proud of the way she’d turned her life around in less than a year’s time. Four months earlier, she’d purchased her own place. A two-story Victorian she was about a quarter of the way done remodeling. Her thumb was even greener these days, thanks to Rowdy, her new business partner.
Jacob seemed more like himself with each passing day. When he started talking about Evie and Roman again, Quinn placed photos around the house in an effort to keep the memory of his parents alive. And then there was Bo. A month before, he’d told her he wanted to get married. She wasn’t sure she was ready, but she knew she’d get there again. One day. And when she did, it would be with him.
“Want me to push you on the swing?” Quinn asked.
Jacob nodded. “Not too high, okay?”
Quinn knelt down until she was eye level and wound her hands around his waist, reciting a familiar line someone had told her a long time ago, “Don’t worry, sweetheart. When you’re with me, I won’t ever let anything bad happen to you.”