Page 124 of Insidious

The words come out before I can stop them. “I think I’ll get it right this time.”

Luna tenses in my arms.

She reaches up and cups my cheek.

“You’d better. That’s why you have me to keep you in line.”

I laugh and kiss her forehead. Across the street, Amelie is attempting to convince a Great Dane to move to Bolton with us. The dog appears interested. Jemma looks a little helpless because our daughter is a force of nature.

Luna shakes her head, knowing Amelie will be back with the “I want a puppy” demands.

And standing here, between the life we’re leaving and the life we’re building, with my daughter bossing us around and my son kicking beneath Luna’s heart, I finally understand something.

Maybe I will always be afraid. That’s what happens when you’ve come close to losing something precious.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear.

It’s loading the final box anyway. Taking the new job anyway. Having the second baby anyway.

I look at Luna and think of the future waiting for us.

The fear doesn’t win. Hope does.