Page 92 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
I had expected to feel some sort of closure from going into that basement—some sort of ending—but I didn’t.
Something was still looming. Something with Everett was still unsettled.
Unfinished.
I just didn’t know what.
“Good night, buddy.” I kissed Coby’s hair and eased out of his room.
It had been a month since Dad’s heart attack and life was getting back to a new normal.
Per Mom’s promise, she had put Dad on a diet—something he hadn’t protested one bit. He’d already lost twelve pounds
and was committed to the healthier lifestyle we were all supporting.
Beau had started taking Dad on regular mountain hikes, Michael had swapped out all of Dad’s heavy Budweiser with Michelob ULTRA, and I had replaced the weekly cookie plate I’d been taking Dad for years with bowls of fresh fruit.
It had taken nearly the entire month, but my fear of losing Dad was finally starting to go away. And whenever I’d start to worry, Hunter was right by my side. He’d pull me into his arms and reassure me that people recovered from heart attacks all the time and went on to live many, many more years.
Without Hunter, this whole ordeal would have been miserable. Without Hunter . . . well, I didn’t like to think about that. I had him and wasn’t letting go.
“What are you doing?” I plopped down on my couch next to Hunter.
He turned his laptop away so I couldn’t see the screen. “It’s a surprise. Is Coby out?”
“Like a light. What’s your surprise?” I careened my neck to get a peek but Hunter tickled my ribs. I yelped and sat back as I swatted his hand away.
“Quiet.” He laughed. “You’re going to wake up Coby.”
I made a “yeah, right” face. Coby had barely made it through two pages of his bedtime book before zonking out. He was deep in dreamland along with Pickle, who was sleeping on the floor by his side.
“Come on, show me your surprise. Is it for Coby? Because I’m great at keeping surprises secret.” I zipped my lips shut, turned the lock, then opened my mouth to toss in the key.
Hunter chuckled and leaned over to brush his lips against mine. “You’re impossible to deny.”
I grinned as he handed over the laptop.
“The surprise is for you, but I’m not quite done with editing yet.”
“Are these my pictures?” I nearly came off the couch I was so excited.
“Yeah. Just click through to the right.”
I hunkered back down, hovering over the laptop, with a huge smile on my face. Taking up the entire screen was a picture of Coby from behind as he fished at the community pond.
“Hunter,” I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. “This is . . .”
It was exactly the shot I’d imagined in my mind but better. The light had been touched up and there was a sunbeam coming down on the water. The grasses had been blurred to give the photo a softened edge. And somehow Hunter had managed to capture enough of Coby’s profile to see that my son was overjoyed.
“You don’t have to use them,” Hunter said. “It won’t hurt my feelings if you decide they aren’t good enough. We can get a professional photographer to come and try them again.”
I tore my eyes away from the photograph. “No. This is amazing. Like, the best picture I’ve ever seen.”
“Really?”
“Totally.” I ran my fingers across his bearded jaw. “Hunter, this picture is unbelievable. It’s just as good as any paid professional could have done. I’m just . . .” I dropped my hand and looked back to the laptop. “I’m just so proud that you did this. It makes this whole project so much more special.”
A smile consumed Hunter’s handsome face.
