Page 118 of The Roads We Follow

“We already transferred your luggage onto the racks above so you’ll have plenty of space in here,” Adele adds. “And you’ll find both your favorite road-trip snacks and drinks in the mini cooler between the seats.” She smiles. “Cheyenne made you a playlist, and Michael added a few of his favorite songs on there, too. Sorry in advance.” My oldest sister rolls her eyes playfully at my brother-in-law, Michael, who promptly informs us that early ’90s grunge has its place on road trips, too. We all laugh, especially Garrett, who seems to have found a new BFF in Adele’s husband.

“Thank you all,” Micah says. “I know I gave a lengthy speech at the rehearsal dinner, so I won’t repeat it all here again—”

“We appreciate that,” Garrett calls out with a laugh. “Some of us have toddlers to put down for a nap!”

“Thanks, Gar.” Micah chuckles. “But really, Raegan and I feel so blessed to have two loving families supporting our marriage.”

“I’m just hoping there’s talk of grandbabies soon!” Frank calls out.

I giggle and blush at this as my new father-in-law moves toward me and kisses my cheeks. “Now, you call me if this one here gets out of line.”

I hug him and assure him he’ll be my first call.

Micah and I are both making our rounds through friends and family until there’s nothing left for us to do but climb into the driver and passenger seats of Lima Bean, Junior. Nothing, that is, except for pulling my two sisters aside and locking them into a tight embrace. A year ago, hugging was a semi-strange phenomenon between us. But not anymore. Not after hours of long, important conversations, dozens of meals at Mama’s, weekend flights to Idaho, and plenty of memory-making at the campground. And especially not after the two of them readThe Sisters of Birch Groveand then hosted a surprise book party for the author.

“I love you both so much,” I say through a tangled web of emotions.

“We love you, too, Sunny Bear,” Hattie whispers through tears of her own. “This is justsee you later.”

“Michael and I already have our next trip to Idaho scheduled on the family calendar,” Adele says huskily. And for what is likely the first time, I’m grateful for that stupid calendar.

“Okay.” I sniff.

“This is where you’re meant to be, Raegan,” Hattie encourages. “You’ll make a beautiful home here—and we’ll be here often. Promise.”

Adele nods and wipes her eyes.“Keep your location on when you travel these next two weeks.”

Hattie and I laugh.

“I mean it,” she insists, which makes Hattie and I laugh even harder.

Some things never change.

After my mama gives me a final hug good-bye, I plant myself intothe passenger seat of Lima Bean, Junior, and smile at my husband. He starts the engine, and the sound is so sweet it’s almost musical. This moment is as serendipitous as they come as Micah takes my hand and pulls out of the same driveway our mothers pulled out of fifty years ago.

Here’s to another epic adventure.

The End