Fallon

SIX MONTHS LATER

THE SUN CASCADED DOWN AS SHRIEKS AND SPLASHES SOUNDED behind me.

“I don’t know how they aren’t freezing to death,” Sutton said with a shake of her head.

Thea lifted one garden-glove-clad hand to shield her eyes while the other dropped to her swollen belly. “I put my swollen-as-hell feet in there, and it was like an instant ice bath.”

Rhodes grinned. “Nothing like being young.”

Arden lifted her glass of lemonade from where she sat on an outdoor chair. “Wait until you’re in month nine. You can’t even see your feet, and you have to pee every two seconds.”

My expression softened. “Your babies are going to be besties.”

Arden waved a hand in front of her face. “Don’t make me cry.”

Ellie laughed. “I love you being in your emo era.”

“Don’t you dare tell Linc,” Arden threatened.

Ellie made a cross over her heart. “I’d never.”

We were enjoying one of those perfect late spring days, the first glimmers of heat making it perfect for working in the garden or taking that first dip in the pond.

“Cannonball!” Luca yelled, launching himself off the dock and swimming toward the deepest water.

“I can totally splash bigger than that,” Gracie called, flipping in.

“Me next,” Keely called, racing down the dock.

They had become three peas in a pod, spending all their time together now that Luca, Sutton, and Cope had moved back to Sparrow Falls.

Clem had found her rhythm, too. After some academic testing, she’d been put into a gifted and talented program that challenged her beautiful brain in all sorts of wonderful ways. But my favorite way to see her was as she was now, completely relaxed, soaking up the sun and a good book.

Hayden was killing it at hockey but had also discovered a real knack for sewing.

The balance of the two, and taking some MMA classes with Kye, had let her truly be a kid for the first time.

And that included her very first boyfriend—one of the teens from Kye’s class.

Kye had put the fear of God into Mateo’s cousin, Danny, but it hadn’t mattered.

Danny had met every challenge Kye threw at him.

And looking at them now, sprawled across the dock, I could see how much Danny cherished our girl. How could I be mad at that?

A whistle sounded, and I looked up to see Kye striding around the side of the house wearing those same scarred motorcycle boots and leather jacket he always did. I was instantly on my feet and running toward him. He caught me on the fly, and my legs encircled his waist.

“How was it?” I asked, concern bleeding into my words.

Kye’s amber eyes searched mine. “Hard. Good. I think it was nice for him to see Jericho and Serena.”

About a month after Kye had been shot, he’d asked me how I would feel if he went to visit Evan in prison.

He’d obviously been warring with the decision, but I told him I’d be with him every step of the way if that’s what he wanted to do.

That first visit had turned into him going every other week.

The trips always weighed heavily on Kye, but they also helped in a way.

Jericho had been more reticent to visit, today marking the first time he had. But the fact that he had told me he was doing some real healing, and throwing himself into the new program he and Kye ran for at-risk youth had helped.

I brushed through Kye’s hair with my fingers. “You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever known.”

Those amber orbs sparked with gold. “Go somewhere with me?”

I glanced around. “We’ve got a full house.”

“They won’t burn the place down.” Kye’s gaze stilled on Hayden and Danny. “What’s the teen heartbreaker doing here?”

“Kyler …” I warned.

He glanced at Arden. “You keep an eye on those two. He makes a move, choke him out.”

Arden rolled her eyes but saluted him. “On it, boss.”

Kye moved then, carrying me toward where he’d parked his truck.

“We have to drive?” I asked.

“Yes, but we’re not leaving the property.”

That piqued my interest even more. We’d made the house and grounds a home over the past seven months, doing all sorts of projects.

And more than that, we’d readied it to welcome foster kids of our own.

We would complete the classes for that and become eligible later this month.

It was everything I’d ever dreamed of. But even with all that, I hadn’t explored the entirety of the massive property Kye had purchased.

He opened the passenger door and deposited me on the seat. “Your chariot, Sparrow.”

I grinned like a fool as he rounded the truck, sliding off his jacket and tossing it into the back. I took stock of his newer ink as he climbed behind the wheel. Three sparrows with Hayden, Clem, and Gracie etched into them. Three more symbols of hope.

Kye guided his truck toward the dirt road that cut through the property, one hand resting on my thigh. Neither of us spoke as he drove. We simply let the comfortable silence descend. But after a few minutes, his gaze flicked to me. “Close your eyes.”

My mouth curved, but I covered my eyes with my hand.

The truck slowed, the engine shut off, and my door opened.

“Keep ’em closed.”

“I’m not cheating,” I shot back.

Kye chuckled and guided me over uneven ground. “When I first looked at this property, I found out that the creek that runs behind the schools also runs through this property.”

My chest tightened at all the memories linked to that body of water. All the precious gifts it had given us.

“But it was missing something,” Kye said, coming up behind me and pulling my hand from my eyes.

As my eyes fluttered open, I sucked in a breath. “Dogwoods.”

The creek carved through the land, wildflowers springing up on its banks. But among all those flowers were endless dogwood trees, their white blossoms in full bloom. “I dreamt this,” I croaked.

Kye shifted so he could see my face. “What?”

“I dreamed of this exact spot when you were in the hospital. Right before you woke up. But I’ve never seen it before. It didn’t even exist.”

Kye framed my face with his hands. “We made it together. It’s our haven.

” He took my mouth in a long, slow kiss.

When he leaned back, he pulled something from his pocket.

“In our haven, there’s both dark and light because we know you can’t have one without the other.

So, I needed my sparrow to have her light. ”

I stared as he slid a ring onto my right ring finger, a mirror to the black diamond engagement ring, but this one had a clear stone and a band made entirely of sparrows. My gaze shot to his. “Kyler …”

“I love you, Sparrow. Thank you for always being my hope in the dark.”

I threw my arms around him. “Thank you for always giving me everything.”