Page 191 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“Yeah . . . we’re making progress. Slow progress,” Luke said.

Therapy was a nonnegotiable for all of us. Vera prompted us to try at first, but I think we all learned to enjoy it for our own reasons. The twins still went twice a week, and the rest of us were down to every two weeks. Codependency was a hard habit to break. But we’d all almost lost each other, and we’d hadn’t had much time apart since what happened in Ireland. I think we all liked it that way.

Presley and Zach reappeared through the trees all smiles.

“I want to give a speech.” Luke stood up.

“We said no speeches,” Aaron said. Presley had begged.

“I know. But this one is important.”

“It’s okay.” I squeezed Aaron’s arm. “Go ahead.”

Luke walked in next to the fire and waited for Zach and Presley to take their seats.

“I kinda prepared this a couple months ago, and I wasn’t going to say it, but I can’t think of a more perfect moment . . . There are a lot of things I could say about the bride and the groom. Aaron, my little brother, it’s an honor to know you know as a man. You have always been such a vital connector of our family, and that’s never been clearer to me. Despite everything, you’ve grown into someone I admire. And every day, I think about how I want to be more like you. I know you’ll take great care of Kimberly. And Kimberly, I can honestly say when I met you, I didn’t know the extent of how important you would become to our family. You were the missing piece I didn’t know we needed.”

I already felt the tears well in my eyes.

“You both are the reason we’re all here tonight. Your bravery and your love that you share for each other is the reason I’m standing here now. You loved even knowing that you might lose everything, and that’s the bravest thing anyone could ever do.That’s something I was afraid to do . . . So this is to you, my brave little brother, and to Kim, my kickass sister, I can’t believe we’re all stuck together till the end of the world. But I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love you both.”

He raised his glass, and Aaron was there to wipe the tears from my cheek. Love was brimming inside me and spilling from my eyes.

“All because Aaron just had to talk to the human girl.” Presley smiled.

“I guess it’s a good thing you’re the soft one, huh.” Zach raised his beer to us, and I swear I saw him wipe his eyes.

Vera raised her drink. “To the beautiful couple.”

After that the night dragged on slowly, and the sun started to fade behind the trees leaving us in darkness and quiet stillness while the fire cracked and spoke incoherent sounds. Vera, Connell, Thane, and Dom retreated to their campsite cabins for the night, then it was just the five of us staring into the light of the fire.

“So where are we going first?” Zach said, pulling his hands through his hair.

It took two years to heal but also two years to save up enough money for us to start traveling. A daunting task but something we were finally ready for. We had a forever list filled out front and back, and it was time to start crossing things off. There was a lot left to work through within us, but after two years in Alaska, we realized we could only heal it by living.

Presley pointed to me. “We let Kimberly decide because she’s the bride.”

“I don’t want to pick. I have literally everything I could ever want right now. I’ll go anywhere you guys want to.”

I didn’t care where in the slightest. I could stay in Alaska and be happy as long as we were all together. Home was wherever they were.

“Then I pick! And we’re going to Italy,” Presley said.

Aaron stood up and grabbed my hand to guide me toward the trees. “How about all three of you each pick a place, and we’ll start there. Kimberly and I are just along for the ride, I think.”

He was right. I didn’t want to plan another thing. No more detailed lists or things to do. I wanted to lay my bare feet on the earth and watch the flowers bloom every spring and catch every sunset and sunrise wherever that might be. The slow monotony was calling my name and lulling me into safety.

“As long as it’s not cold,” Zach said, and we’d all agreed.

Luke was the only one quiet enough to spot us leaving as we neared the tree line. He leaned back in his chair. “And where are you two going?”

“Just taking a moment over here. Don’t worry.” Aaron guided me through to the edge of the campsite and out of sight into the trees.

“Ah. I finally have you all to myself.”

Our faces would never age, but I swear there was something different in the eyes of the boy I met in the forest. He’d grown up before my very eyes.

“Will you dance with me, Mrs. Calem?”