Page 40 of What Remains

Cara answered from the other side of the SUV, her tone practical but surprisingly soft. “We can hide it behind that billboard, cover it with debris. It’ll look like it’s been sitting there since the fall.”

Josie nodded slowly. “Okay,” she whispered. “Okay... I’ll ride with Seth.”

Seth froze for a half-second, then nodded, clearing his throat. “You and Layla can take the back. Plenty of room.”

Josie managed a wobbly smile. “Thank you.”

They worked quickly to move the contents of the jeep to Beast. When they finished and moved it behind the destroyed sign she opened the door, and let her hand rest on the steering wheel one last time.

“Goodbye, Mark,” she murmured, and closed the door with a final, decisive click.

Jay walked up beside her, “We’ll get you to Denver. You’re not doing this alone anymore.”

Josie nodded, wiping her cheek quickly before anyone could pretend not to see. “Thanks, its appreciated,” she said, her voice steadier now. “Let’s go.”

Seth handled the car seat with a practiced efficiency that made Josie’s breath catch. He clicked the buckle, pulled the strap tight, and tested the latch with a firm tug—all in one smooth, familiar motion.

Josie watched him, Layla on her hip. For the first time since meeting him, she noticed the way his hands automatically gentled around the car seat, the way he double-checked every buckle even though he already knew it was perfectly secured.

“You’re... well practiced,” she said, attempting a light tone that wavered at the end.

Seth froze.

He didn’t stiffen. Didn’t flinch. Didn’t get angry.

He simply stopped. His hands froze over the last strap, fingers slightly curled, as if remembering a weight that was no longer there.

“Oh. God.” Her voice cracked. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean⁠—”

“It’s fine.”

But his voice came out mechanical, far too calm.

He clicked the last strap into place with a finality that made Josie’s heart twist. When he straightened, he didn’t look at her—just wiped a hand over his face, jaw looked tense.

“I had a son,” he said, the words barely audible.

The silence that followed pressed down on all of them, heavy as gravity.

Josie swallowed, her eyes blurring. “I shouldn’t have joked. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

Seth finally looked at her—eyes rough and tired, the skin beneath them bruised and sunken.

“Yeah,” he said, his voice flat. “How would you?”

He stepped back, giving her space—or possibly giving himself space. Josie hugged Layla closer. The little girl rested her head on her mother’s shoulder, oblivious to the words yet somehow sensing the heaviness that had settled over the adults around her.

Josie placed a trembling hand on the SUV door before he could close it.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “For trusting us enough to tell us that.”

He shook his head slowly. “I didn’t tell you because of trust.” He exhaled roughly, the sound scraping out of him. “I told you because... I don’t want you to think I’m angry. I’m not.”

Josie blinked, the quiet admission hitting her harder than any shout would have.

Jay cleared his throat, breaking the moment before it could grow any heavier. “We should get moving. It's still a long way to go.”

Seth nodded and stepped back to let her climb in beside her daughter. Before shutting the door, he paused—his eyes meeting Josie’s one last time. Something unspoken moved between them in that brief, final look.