Page 392 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"I absolutely did."

I nudge the front door open with my shoulder.

As I carry her across the threshold, the cabin greets us with the warm glow of a single lamp I'd left burning that morning.

With my foot as helper, the door swings shut behind us with a soft click.

And for the first time since this day began...

We are completely alone.

***

For a long moment neither of us moves.

The cabin is exactly as I left it this morning.

The stone fireplace.

The familiar quilt folded across the back of the sofa.

The scent of cedar and coffee that somehow always lingers in the air.

Only one thing is different.

Us.

I slowly lower Annette to her feet.

Neither of us lets go.

Our hands remain linked between us as we simply stand there, smiling like two people who still aren't entirely convinced today actually happened.

Finally, she laughs.

She lifts her left hand again, turning it toward the lamplight. "I think I've looked at this thing a hundred times."

"Only a hundred?"

She grins. "What about you?"

"I've been trying not to drive into a ditch."

Her laugh fills the cabin, warm and unguarded.

Oh Man...I'm going to spend the rest of my life trying to hear that sound as often as possible.

Her gaze wanders around the room.

To the stone fireplace. The bookshelves. The windows overlooking the lake.

Then she notices something on the table by the door. The wooden sign. She walks toward it slowly.

I follow a few steps behind.

Her fingers brush lightly across the painted letters.

THE WALKERS