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SAM

Six years later…

I’m stuffing a suitcase with too many hoodies when Mom’s sniffle from the doorway makes me pause.

“Mom,” I say, without turning around, because if I see her face, I might cry myself. “You’re not crying again, are you?”

“No,” she says, her voice wobbling. “I’m fine. I’m just…really proud of you.”

Dad clears his throat. He’s been doing that a lot today—hovering nearby, trying to be helpful, and then disappearing when things get too emotional. He comes back with his face red and splotchy, so it’s no secret that he’s going off to cry too.

Winnie is sprawled across my bed, her face buried in my pillow. “I don’t think I’m going to survive this.”

My little brother Atticus sits near her on the bed, rubbing her back. He hates it when any of us are upset.

I sigh. “I’m not leaving forever. I’m just going to college. And it’s not that far. I’ll be back to visit lots.”

“You say that, but once you get to school, you’re gonna be all about the girls and sports and…” Her face curls up. “You’ll never come home again.”

“Not true,” I tell her. “I promise I’ll be back.”

Dad rubs the back of his neck. “And you’ll FaceTime a lot?”

“And tell me everything?” Winnie adds. She props herself up on her elbows and glares at me. “You better FaceTime me.”

I sit down next to her on the bed. “You think I could stay away from all of you?”

Winnie’s mouth wobbles and she launches herself to me, clinging to my neck like a little monkey. I wrap my arms around her and pull Atticus in too. I’m going to miss them so much.

Mom and Dad come over and hug us. I look up at them and my throat tightens.

I feel the way I have since the day I moved into this home…so damn lucky.

There was a time I didn’t think I’d ever have a family.

I was nine when I met my dad. He wasn’t my dad yet, but looking back, it was inevitable. I was in foster care, bouncing from house to house, convinced that nothing would ever work out for me. The world felt big and cold, and I was just drifting.

Penn showed up to tutor me. He was tall and kind of intimidating, but when he sat down and smiled at me, I could tell he was genuine. I didn’t know if I could trust him at first. I was used to people pretending to care and then disappearing or hitting me or withholding things from me.

But he stuck around.

He made me feel like I mattered. He showed up. Every time. Without fail.

He told me I was smart. That I was capable. That I mattered.

Until he made me believe it.

And when Mom came into our lives, it was like she filled all the empty places in both of us with love. I didn’t know anyone’s heart could be so big.

They’ve never stopped making me feel like I belong. Like I’m wanted.

I clear my throat and hug Winnie and Atticus one more time before gently prying them off of me.

“Okay, I better keep packing.”

“Do you think you have everything?” Mom asks, looking anxious.

“Maybe I’ll leave something on purpose, so you’ll have to bring it to me.”

She grins. “Okay. That sounds like a good plan.”

“You don’t have to trick us into visiting you,” Dad says. “We’ll be there all the time, if you say the word.”

“He doesn’t want us around all the time, Penn,” Mom says.

“Yes, I do,” I say quickly.

“You’ll be home for Christmas?” Winnie says.

“Of course.”

“And Thanksgiving?”

“Yes.

“And my birthday?” She presses her hands together.

“I’ll do my best.”

“And my birthday?” Atticus asks, bouncing on the bed.

I ruffle his hair. “If at all possible.”

“You’re going to do so great, Sam. You know that, right?” Mom says.

I swallow hard. “I hope so.”

Dad rests his hand on my shoulder, grounding and steady. “You’re the most capable person I know,” he says quietly.

“You’re biased,” I tell him, trying to lighten the mood.

“Completely,” he says. “But I’m also not wrong.”

I feel that familiar swell in my chest that I’ve felt since I was nine years old. So much love.

Dad pulls me in for a hug. “I love you, buddy.”

“I love you too.”

Mom joins the hug, squeezing me tight. Winnie huffs and wedges herself between them, getting in the middle, and Atticus isn’t far behind.

“We’re a mess.” I laugh, my voice cracking.

“We’re your mess,” Dad says.

“Always have been,” Mom says.

“Always will be,” I say softly.

Keep reading to get a sneak peek of what's coming next! Goldie Whitman and Milo Lombardi meet and instantly clash in Take this Heart , book 1 of the Windy Harbor series.