Page 87 of Worth the Want

My lungs were screaming and

I won’t be able to walk tomorrow.

But I did it. I’m trying.

I love you. I miss you.

Love, Indiana

Pride swells in my chest thinking about how far she’s come. She’s been through hell and come back even stronger.

“Okay, I think it’s time for me to get out. I’m starting to prune. Thank you for letting me use your tub. I couldn’t get the stopper on mine to work.”

“You can have or use anything of mine, Honey.” I drop a kiss to her head. “Hazel and I will go outside and wait for you.”

“I’ll be out in just a few minutes. I’m so excited to gather flowers with you today, Hazey.”

“Me too!”

I help Hazel carry all her art supplies to the kitchen and set them up at the table for her.

“Remember what we talked about?”

“Yes.”

“Remember not to tell Indie until later, right?”

“Yes. It’s a surprise!”

“That’s my girl.” I kiss her head as Indie walks into the room, stealing my breath in just her cotton T-shirt and shorts.

“I’m just going to grab our basket and book, and we can head out, Hazey.”

“Okay, Indie.” She hops out of her chair and over to the door where her blue rubber boots are.

“Are you going to be joining us,Daddy?” She does this every so often. Calls me Daddy in a way that’s just suggestive enough to make me want to hear her say it in other situations.

“I think I’ll leave it to you girls today if that’s alright. I have a couple of things I need to get done around here.”

“Of course. We’ll be fine, won’t we, dragonfly?” Her use of Hazel’s nickname hits me in the chest. I know she misses her sister, and she always will, but if Hazel and I can be here for her—can help mend that sadness with our love, then that’s what we’ll do.

“Yes!” Hazel yells, grabbing Indie’s hand and walking out the door with her.

Once they leave, I book it down the hall and open the closet. I grab the drawings that Hazey colored, and the banner we worked on. Winnie made me a dozen chocolate croissants, and then we have the big surprise for the living room wall that I’ve been working on since our first hike without even realizing. When Indie gets back from her dinner with Florence tonight, Hazel and I are asking her to move in with us.

For the next few hours, I watch the girls walk around the lake, picking flowers while I stash all the please-move-in-with-us supplies under the counters in the kitchen. My phone vibrates with a message from the group chat.

Alder

Family dinner next week. Doing one of those sweet reveals with pink or blue smoke. I’m thinking of jumping out of the helicopter with a special parachute, yeah?

Ivy

You’re not doing that, Action Hero.

Winnie

OMG can I make a cake?!