Page 88 of Roar for Me

“So, did we pass inspection?”

“With Ryder? Of course! You completely won him over with your amazing baking.”

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, hmm?”

“Especially a college man.”

Aurora chuckled. “I’m so grateful for the help. I’m not as young as I used to be, and I don’t have the energy for that much baking by myself anymore.”

“Anytime.” He dug his thumb into the instep where he knew it always hurt the worst and kneaded as she purred. “So, what’s on the agenda for tomorrow?”

Aurora sighed, and her good mood dissipated. “Katie and I need to take Jeff’s wreath over to the cemetery. I’m late this year.”

“Mind if I tag along, or is this a girls’ thing?”

Aurora met his eyes as he switched to her other foot. Was he serious? “If you want to, sure. It’s not exactly pleasant.”

“I do.”

The look on his face said he’d go anywhere with her. How did she get so lucky again? “I’d like that.”

Aurora drove the familiar road to Jeff’s plot, Duncan by her side, and Katie in the back with Jeff’s wreath. It felt good, but strange, to have him along. It had been just her and Katie for so long. Jeff’s family all lived in other states, and she realized once they moved, no one would come to visit. Logically, of course, she knewJeffwasn’t there in the ground, only his body. But unless she made an effort to return, people would think Jeff had no one to visit him. She’d have to figure something out. Maybe next year, when Katie was on winter break, she could convince Duncan to come back and visit with her family for the holidays with them. At least that would be something.

She parked the car. Katie hopped out and took the wreath up the hill to Jeff’s plot ahead of them. Aurora paused at the base, watching as Katie stood the wreath in front of his plaque on the ground.

Duncan laid a hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”

Aurora released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “This is awkward.” She turned to look at him. “Jeff and I never discussed dating after the other was gone.”

“I can stay in the car if you’d rather.”

“No, it’s okay. I think … I think he’d like you.”

She started up the hill. Duncan followed half a pace behind her.

“And I got the scholarship for CCA, so Mom doesn’t have to worry about my student loans. But that means we’re moving to California next year, and we won’t be able to visit as much.”

Aurora stood next to Katie and sensed Duncan stop behind her. “I don’t want her out there alone. We always said I could get a better job outside the nonprofit world, but I didn’t expect to be looking in California.” She shoved her hands in her pockets. “I’ll be staying with Duncan. We went to high school together and reconnected over the reunion.”

Duncan gently laid a hand on her shoulder. “Nice to meet you. You’ve got two amazing women here, and I promise I’ll take good care of them for you.”

Hot tears sprang to Aurora’s eyes. Emotions whirled through her chest, her throat constricting. Any doubts she had about bringing Duncan vanished with his words.

“I’m planning on keeping the house here, so we have a place to stay when we visit. Duncan’s son lives in the area, too, so I’m sure we’ll be back regularly.”

Aurora wrapped an arm around Katie as she leaned into her and smiled.

They were going to be okay.