Chapter 32 Homeward Bound
The morning sunlight slanted in through the cabin windows, golden and soft, warming the hardwood floors and glinting off the frost outside. I stood in the living room alone, just for a second, running my fingers over the edge of the leather couch, then the back of the armchair where Drew had once tucked a blanket around me without saying a word.
The place was quiet now, too quiet without all the noise and chaos we’d brought to it over the past two weeks. The fireplace still held the scent of charred wood and melted marshmallows. I could still see the corner where we’d put up the tiny fake Christmas tree Jake insisted we needed, even though there was already an enormous one in the living room.
I wandered over to the big front windows and pressed a palm to the cold glass. Out past the porch, the snow-covered trees stretched on for miles. It was beautiful in a way that made my chest ache. This house had been the backdrop of so much: our engagement, long nights filled with laughter and love, soft mornings with sleepy smiles and coffee, the kind of memories I never wanted to lose.
Behind me, footsteps creaked across the floor.
"You good?" Patrick asked gently, voice low.
I turned and nodded. "Just saying goodbye."
He came to stand beside me, his hand brushing mine. "We’ll come back. This place isn’t going anywhere."
I smiled and leaned my head against his shoulder. "Can we take a picture? All of us? Before we go."
Patrick kissed the top of my head. "Jake already set it up. Tripod and everything."
Of course, he had.
We took the photo on the porch, wrapped in jackets and scarves. Jake insisted we do a goofy one and then a nice one. Drew refused to smile for the silly one until I kissed his cheek mid-photo, and the resulting shot was now my favorite. Even Patrick laughed.
Jake was last to pile into the SUV, calling shotgun before Mike could claim it. That earned him a headlock and a minute of wrestling before Josh shoved them both into the back and climbed in beside me.
The drive to the private airstrip was quiet at first, the cabin fading behind us in the rearview mirror. I sat between Josh and Drew, leaning on Josh’s shoulder, a soft ache blooming in my chest as the trees thinned and the road widened.
Jake was playing DJ again, flipping through songs on his phone until he settled on an old rock playlist that somehow made the mood feel less heavy.
Halfway there, I dozed off, safe between the two of them, and woke only when the SUV slowed near the plane.
Our jet sat gleaming on the tarmac, a soft mist rising from the snow as the engines idled low. It wasn’t flashy, but it was sleek and quiet and completely ours. Just like the house. Just like everything we built together.
Inside, the cabin was warm and familiar. Cozy, even. Blankets were already draped over the seats, and a tray of snacks sat at the small bar.
I settled into one of the oversized chairs, curling my legs under me. Josh handed me a bottle of water and sat beside me, his arm draping over the back of the seat.
Mike sat across from us, legs stretched out, tapping on his phone. Drew was reading a book, and Patrick was… watching me. As always.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
I hesitated, then nodded. "Just… trying to adjust."
He slid into the seat next to mine, taking my hand. "We’ll take it slow. No pressure."
"You’re not going back alone," Josh added, his voice low but firm. "Whatever’s waiting for us back home, we’ll face it together."
"Always," Drew murmured without looking up from his book, but his hand reached out, brushing against my knee before settling back in his lap.
That warmth, that steadiness, I hadn’t known how much I needed it until I had it.
Patrick reached into his bag and pulled out a small box. "I meant to give you this before we left."
I blinked, surprised. "Another gift? You’ve already given me a ring."
He smiled. "This one’s different."
Inside the box was a delicate charm bracelet. Tiny silver charms hung from the chain, each one representing something from our time in Colorado. A little snowflake. A plane. A tiny mug of cocoa. And a heart with the date of our engagement engraved on it.
I stared at it, throat thick. "Patrick..."
"Just something to remember this trip by. Not that you’ll forget."
I nodded, unable to speak for a moment. Drew reached over and clasped it on my wrist without a word.
The plane began to taxi down the runway.
Jake was at the bar, stealing snacks, and Mike had already kicked off his shoes. Josh was flipping through a movie list on the onboard screen, and Patrick hadn’t let go of my hand.
I glanced out the window one last time as the trees and mountains faded below us, the cabin disappearing into the snow. A chapter closing.
And a new one begins.
I leaned back in my seat, smiling as Jake slid into the seat next to me and handed me a cookie.
"I didn’t know what came next," I thought to myself as Josh tucked a blanket over my lap. "But for the first time in forever, I wasn’t afraid to find out."