Page 108 of You Met Me There

A smile twists my lips. “Yeah, we’re on a good path right now. We were already working things out before the accident. But now—I think the hardest parts are over. We’re … repairing.” I hear Nat’s voice telling me about rupture and repair, how the worst part of someone’s story can be the turning point toward something better and stronger.

“I’m glad,” Mom says, a small smile blooming on her face. She looks across the room and rests her head on my shoulder again. “Why didn’t you tell me? About your worries?”

“I wanted to leave the sad version of you in the past,” I murmur. “Didn’t want to bring it up when you were so happy. I thought it would pull you away again.”

Her hand finds mine, the soft touch making me feel like a kid again. She looks up at me. “I’m not going anywhere, Luke. I’m better now. I can’t say enough times how I wish I hadn’t made you feel this way, but I’m glad you have Natalie. And I think you two are going to be okay, too. Just like I am.”

I grin a little. “I think so, too, Mom. I think so, too …”

Chapter 54

Natalie

Jules drove my SUV back to her house when she flew home, so it’s not at the airport when I arrive. A parking fee for three weeks would have been a few hundred dollars, and I was happy to have Jules use it on her way back. So, as soon as I get the rental car I need, I drive straight to the cabin and get to work.

There isn’t much to pack since I only came here with one suitcase at the beginning of summer, but every item I put away feels heavy in my hands. I’m sad to go, now that summer is over, but I also hate spending time away from Luke when he needs me. I feel torn between here and there: my family and childhood home, and the man who owns my heart.

I spot my camera on the nightstand, where I left it weeks ago. My fingers itch to pick it up and photograph every inch of Maple Lake. I want to take every memory with me when I’m gone. Since Luke’s accident cut our summer a little short, I never got to take the photos of the cabin for its online listing; it’s the last thing on my mental to-do list before I go back home.

Nearly done gathering my things, a knock at the door surprises me. I peek out the window and spot a little visitor. Archie’s standing on the porch holding his hands at his back. Jules and Levi stand behind him.

I swing the door wide, unable to hold back a great big smile. “Hi! I didn’t expect to see you all until later.” My mood is instantly lifted. When I’m gone, I might actually miss my nephews the most. They’re so precious, and I’ve become very attached.

“We brought you a surprise,” says Archie, his little arms crossed behind his back.

“Oh, really?” I smile at Jules, who’s standing a few steps away. Levi has his arm wrapped around her from the side.

“They really missed you when you were gone,” she says. “And they thought you’d be sad because of what happened to Luke. And also because you’re packing to leave. They have a little gift for you.”

I crouch down in front of Archie. “You have a gift for me?”

He nods and reveals his surprise. “I picked these for you.”

“I helped,” adds Levi.

In Archie’s hand is a tiny bouquet of little white flowers hanging from bent green stems. They’re the exact flowers I used to pick when I was a little girl.

“Mom said they’re your favorite.” Archie hands them to me. I take them, careful to not drop any of the delicate flowers.

My throat swells. “Thank you,” I choke out. “These are my favorite. And I haven’t seen lilies of the valley in years.” I smile down at the boys, tears threatening to appear.

Archie beams. “You can put them in a cup or a jar or something to keep them nice. And you can put water in there, too, because plants need water. And maybe you can plant them when you go back home.” The smile on his face pricks at my heart, knowing I have to leave them all behind—the flowers and my family.

“Thank you so much,” I say, my eyes moving from Archie to Levi and then to Jules. “You remembered,” I say to my sister.

“I remember everything,” she replies, her own eyes bright with unshed tears. “I never forgot who you were or what you liked back then. All I ever wanted when you were gone was to have you back. Those flowers always reminded me of you.”

I motion toward my collarbone, but I look toward hers. “Is that why you have that flower tattoo?”

Her eyes are warm and her smile is bright. “I wanted you with me, even when you weren’t here.” She steps forward and hugs me tightly. “I wish you didn’t have to leave,” she says against my hair. “You’ll be back, though, right? Like you said?”

“Christmas. It’ll be sooner than you think.” We separate, and I hug both the boys.

Levi’s grown over the summer, and I fear how different he’ll look in a few months when I come back for the holiday. As long as Luke is able to walk and travel, we’ll be here.

“I’ll miss you both,” I say, squeezing them. “But Uncle Luke and I will be here for Christmas, and I’ll bring you both something special from Florida.”

Their eyes stretch wide, and their smiles warm up my heart.