Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (98)

I put my truck in park and twisted around. “What do you mean?”

Sky’s legs bounced faster now. “Like, would she maybe … be my mom?”

I saw it then, the hope burning brightly in Skylar’s hazel eyes. She wanted that. Just like I did.

I reached out and took Skylar’s tiny hand in mine. “Little Princess, it’s usually a long wait before people get married. It takes time to get to know each other and make sure it’s a good fit.”

Sky glared at me. “Nova fits with us.”

I had to fight a laugh because I agreed. “I think so, too. But we’re still gonna take our time. I can tell you one thing I know for certain, though.”

“What?” Skylar asked, annoyance still in her voice.

“She loves you with her whole heart.”

A small smile tugged at Sky’s lips. “I know she does. She plays with me, and she listens and always has the best voices when we play princess warrior battle games.”

“It’s the voices that are the most important, huh?” I asked, still fighting a laugh.

Skylar shook her head. “It’s most important that I can be me with her. And she thinks I’m awesome.”

God, I loved Nova. I loved my kid. I loved the way they loved each other. I was becoming a sentimental sap, and I didn’t give a damn. “That is the most important.”

“Daddy?”

“Yeah?”

“You gotta pull up. Everyone’s waiting.”

This time, I did bark out a laugh. It looked like our emo moment was over. Kids, man.

I helped Skylar out of the truck, making sure she had her backpack and lunch. But before I could even tell her I loved her, she was running toward Owen, who was waiting at the school doors. I was grateful she felt so confident. No fear. No worries. It was everything I’d ever wanted for her.

My phone rang, and I answered it as I climbed back behind the wheel. “Archer.”

“It’s Roger.”

The tone of his voice had my blood running cold. “What is it?”

“Heidi Ingram. We found her.”





CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR


Nova




TAKING A DEEP BREATH, I LOOKED AROUND MOONRIDGE Meadow Ranch. Aster’s family’s spread was absolutely breathtaking and an operation far greater than Waylon’s smaller setup. But it had its own special energy.

I couldn’t quite define it. A peacefulness that came from wide-open spaces surrounded by forests, maybe. The rolling hills where horses and cattle grazed. It calmed the soul.

The air was different, too. Pine with a crisp bite, thanks to the change in the weather, and the scent of horses. A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have thought I’d have liked that. But I found it oddly comforting. Earthy. Grounding.

“Nova,” a familiar voice called.

I turned to see Aster striding toward me. She wore that same cowboy hat with the flat brim and colorful ribbon at the base.

“This is quite the operation,” I said, gesturing to the massive horse barn, complete with stunning architectural finishes like exposed beams and expert arches. It even had chandeliers.

Her mouth curved, making those pale-blue eyes twinkle. “Granddad always says the horses deserve somewhere pretty to lay their heads.”

“I can’t argue with you there.”

Aster’s gaze roamed over my face, settling on my eyes. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay, really.”

She arched a brow.

I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. “All right. Normally, when I say that, it’s a big fat lie. But right now, it’s the truth. I’m okay. Some things are amazing. Other things are really freaking hard. But it’s all sort of evening out, making me feel like I can make it through.”

“You will,” Aster vowed. “And it’s good to mark the amazing stuff. Helps us walk through the rest.”

“I’m starting to see that.”

She glanced toward what looked like some sort of ring where half a dozen horses were tied to the inside of the fence at different intervals. “I’m glad you wanted to come early. I think you might like this.”

Nerves bubbled up from somewhere deep, but I kept breathing.

“My friend and colleague, Marly, works in a special discipline called equine therapy. She actually trained me in it,” Aster began.

She inclined her head toward a woman in a curved cowboy hat with wild gray hair that hung around her. She moved with some combination of confidence and gentleness that spoke to me.

“Therapy with horses?” I asked.

“That’s it. Sometimes, having your focus on something other than simply sitting and talking helps the process. And honestly, I think horses have a healing magic of their own, something no human can bring to the table.”

That was something I valued about Aster—that she talked to me about the process. Explained what would happen. During my therapy experience in the past, it felt like the doctor was constantly trying to trick me into opening up. Aster made me feel like maybe I could be on the same team as a therapist.

“Think maybe you’d like to meet Marly and take part today? It’ll give you a feel for things, see if this modality might be right for you,” Aster suggested.