Page 145 of Shadow

The words washed over her.

Yes. Yes, he did.

“Huck, go wash up for dinner,” Sierra said. “And tell your dad Daphne’s here.”

“Okay!” Huck ran off. All energy and enthusiasm, his boots thudding on the barn floor.

Sierra stopped in the yard.

“He knows the whole story,” Sierra said quietly. “About the secrets I kept. About not telling Rowan for ten years. I told him his father was dead, so it was…a shock. For all of us, actually, when Rowan came back. But we’re…healing. And happy.”

“Rowan didn’t know about Huck?”

“No. And at the time, I made a choice I thought was right.” She sighed. “Love is complicated. Protecting someone sometimes means making hard decisions.” She paused. “Rowan forgave me, even though I broke his heart. And that forgiveness made us stronger than we would have been without the breaking.”

Forgiveness. The word hung there.

“And I forgave him for leaving, even though he did nothing wrong. I was really angry, deep down. I knew he was a hero. I just…didn’t want it to cost me anything.”

Daphne nodded.

“I was so convinced I’d done the right thing that I couldn’t see how much I’d hurt him. Couldn’t see that my protection was really about my fear.”

Sierra turned. Looked at Daphne. The fading sunlight caught the side of her face. Made her eyes warm.

“And he—he chose to see past the lie to the reason. Chose to understand that I’d been scared. That I’d been protecting Huck in the only way I knew how. That my choices had been wrong, but my heart had been right.”

“And that was enough?”

“It was a start. The rest—the trust, the rebuilding, the learning to be vulnerable, choosing each other every day, even when it’s hard…it just takes practice.” Sierra smiled. “Trust is a muscle, Daphne. But muscles can be rebuilt.”

Daphne drew in a breath, folded her arms, and looked over the land.

You can trust me. I promise.

“Most of all, when Rowan came back, I knew that I needed to hang on to him. Good men are worth fighting for.”

Worth fighting for. Worth the risk. Worth choosing, despite the fear.

“Come on,” Sierra said. “Dinner’s ready.”

They walked to the house. Up the porch steps. Into the warm glow of lights and laughter and family. The smell of grilled steak and garlic bread filled the air. Rich. Savory.

Yeah, this was a good idea.

Rowan stood at the kitchen counter, plating steaks. Tall. Broad-shouldered. The kind of man who looked dangerous until he smiled. Then he just looked…good.

And of course, reminded her completely of Asher.

“Hey, Daphne. Can’t believe you’re back.” He gave her a side hug. “Dinner’s ready.”

Daphne didn’t mention that she knew about the favor Asher had called in. Not yet.

They ate. Casual. Easy. Huck chattered about horses and school and his upcoming competition. Sierra asked about her life in Seattle. Rowan told a few military stories.

And Daphne sat there feeling—something. Something unfamiliar. Something that might be belonging.

After dinner, Sierra sent Huck to do homework. Rowan cleaned up the kitchen. And Sierra led Daphne out to the porch.