Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“I have my own money, Theo,” she says as we link hands, starting back toward the picnic tables. “I can replace my own things.”
“I know, but maybe I want to help. Maybe I think it’s time you had someone taking care of you for once, instead of always having to do everything by yourself.”
“I heard that, and I agree,” Christian says, lifting his cell into the air with a sympathetic expression. “They found your van downstream wrapped around part of a flooded overpass. I’m sorry. Someone just posted a pic on social media, said how sad it was such a sweet ride had to end that way.”
“Yeah, it is.” Macy pulls in a deep breath and exhales slowly. “But Bessy taught me so much, and I’ll use every bit of that knowledge to build an even better home on wheels.” She glances up at me with a soft smile. “This time with room for two.”
Starling lets out a happy squeal. “Oh yay! I was hoping you’d say that. You guys have the best energy together. I was just telling Christian that if you didn’t realize you were meant to be, we should find a way to get you locked up in a cabin together again for a few days until you come to your senses.”
Macy laughs. “No, thank you. I’m done with cabins. And vans, too. I say we go for a converted school bus this time around.”
“That sounds cool as hell,” I say, “but it might take a few months to pull that off. Can you handle sticking around this small town for that long?”
She nods. “Yeah, I can. As long as I’ve got you beside me.”
“Just try to shake me,” I say, pulling her in for a hug, while my family makes approving noises all around.
And then our name is called—McGuire party of seven—and we head inside to make more approving noises over our delicious breakfast, followed by yet more approving noises from Pippa later that day, after my successful run to the pet store for toys.
But the best approving noises are the ones that come from Macy when I’ve got her back in my bed for the night.
And hopefully, every night after.
We keep the positive momentum going through November and on into the rest of the holiday season, starting work on our school bus in mid-December, just as the snow is about to fall.
We move our build into an empty airline hangar at the tiny regional airport nearby, where yet another of my many cousins works, and keep plugging away on our camper conversion until spring, through the birth of Drew’s second beautiful daughter, Christian and Starling’s engagement announcement, and so many other wild and wonderful family events too numerous to count.
I appreciate each one all the more for knowing soon I’ll get the family news from a group text or pictures shared on social media.
I love them all, but I’m ready to see the world with my girl, my person.
My Macy.
When that sunny spring morning finally dawns, and we’re ready to hand the keys to my house over to my new tenants and hit the road, I don’t feel a shred of regret.
In fact, sitting in my co-pilot chair with a very happy pig on my lap, watching Bad Dog roll by as Macy steers us west toward our first stop in Sioux Falls, I feel like the luckiest man in the world.
“Still no regrets?” Macy asks, turning to arch a brow my way as she rolls to a stop at the last stop sign at the edge of town.
I shake my head. “Not a single one. Drive on, woman. Let’s see what the world has to teach us.”
Her gaze softens. “Yes. Let’s.”
We do, and it’s better than I dreamed it could be. Because around every bend, she’s right there with me, the girl I never could learn to live without.
And now, I don’t have to.