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“Of course.” It made sense, especially with Mike being the master of ceremonies with reciting the story to the no doubt rapt audience.

The line had dwindled, so we managed to grab our food and drinks, and then we walked around the crowd heading toward the ghost horses.

“Let’s find a spot on the road there,” Bodhi pointed.

We could duck behind the barrier where people weren’t allowed to catch our breaths. It was pretty close to where I assumed he would watch the show with the boys, Mal, and Crew.

There was something oddly domestic in just… being with him. Sharing a meal, while so many other people were milling around in the lit up areas while we lurked in the dark.

A crackle sounded from his hip. “Payton for BH.”

I held out my hand to take Bodhi’s water bottle, but he shook it off, instead opting to stuff the rest of his hotdog into his face.

He unhooked the radio and held it to me, pressing the button.

“This is Wren, Bodhi has his mouth full of food because he acts like a pig sometimes,” I snarked.

There were little cut off giggles, then Payton said, “Where are you?”

I explained, and soon Crew said they’d come to the barrier.

Bodhi put the radio back and drank some water. Then he grimaced and poured some of the water on his hands before wiping them on the napkins he’d grabbed from the truck.

Still, we didn’t talk. Once I was done with my meal and repeated the steps he’d taken, I turned to him.

“Okay. Let’s go be humans again.”

Bodhi grinned that devastating way he had. “Okay. Give me the trash, there’s a bin right there.”

When we met the others and took our spot, I found that the boys’ enthusiasm was rubbing off on me. I hadn’t, after all, seen the ghost horses in person. There was no magic in it for me, I’d literally just seen Jaina and Humphrey being painted, but it was still something special.

As if on cue, Bodhi and Crew bent down and lifted the boys on their shoulders. They squeaked and giggled, and then the brothers stood close enough to each other that our Ziggy and wolf could hold hands on their high perches.

I went to Bodhi’s other side and stood next to him. It wasn’t too cold, but I still felt the warmth of his arm through my thin silk shirt.

Smoke machines hissed to life nearby, and kids in the vicinity let out happy sounds. I smiled. There was something magical about this, after all.

Bodhi had one of his arms cross his chest, holding Shiloh’s opposite calf in his big hand, his arm securing the other leg to his body. There was no way the boy would fall. Just as Mike welcomed the audience, Bodhi took my hand.

My heart went on overdrive, but I slotted our fingers together anyway. Because while he was my biggest heartbreak, he was also my best friend and my deepest love.

On Tuesday morning, I still felt the echo of his big, rough hand in mine. I had calloused fingertips from playing the guitar, but his were from hard work.

I kept repeating my mantra of “I can do this” over and over again during the family brunch and every other time I saw and interacted with Bodhi. There was something going on in his big brain, I could tell, but I was pretty sure he hadn’t talked to anyone about it.

That was Bodhi, though. He’d mull over things and then talk to someone when he had his thoughts in order. It wasn’t just the military, either; he’d always been like that.

I watched as Dave talked to his crew, clearly leading the operation. I was fine with that. The less Mr. Gardner I’d have on my property, the better. Dave and I had had a chat already, we’d talked about their plan for the day, and now it was time to execute it. They started from the barn, because it was the easier, faster job. Dave had asked me if I wanted to do any final walk-throughs of either building, but I’d declined. I just… didn’t want to.

It hit me then, that there were various doorframes around the Harrington house with different kids’ growth recorded in lines and neat names and dates. There wasn’t even one in mine. My parents hadn’t cared to keep records, yet I was pretty sure every single Harrington kid and now grandchild had theirs somewhere in the main house.

Sighing, I wiped my cheek. I wasn’t sad for the house. I was melancholy for what I hadn’t had here.

Dave walked back to me. “Are you going to stay?”

“I’m actually thinking about going into town and hanging out at Kira’s. I’ll grab some lunch and coffee for everyone in the crew, if that’s okay with you?”

He beamed. “That’s very generous, thank you.”