AllFreeNovel
Share Us
What else had Kensi said?You can't control what life gives you. All you can control is what you're grateful for.
The helicopter rushed toward the caves, and Hunter looked at his brothers.
Yep, he was grateful for them. And he was grateful to finish what Banks had started.
Chapter 31
Cheryse was thrilled to have Liberty back.
It had been an hour. The women had put the baby shower on hold and surrounded Liberty, asking questions about the past year and telling her how much they loved her.
Liberty had stayed with her brother in Massachusetts, and she'd gone for long walks and had even written a book, which gave her and Kensi even more to talk about.
Liberty shrugged and faced the group. “Obviously, my book isn't a love story, although there is love in it. My book is grittier, about a woman who grew up on a beach, surrounded by great friends. She left and had a life with a husband and child who passed away, then she came back home and found love again.” Her eyes blinked. “Only to have that love taken away from her.”
As if on cue, all the women were sniffing and crying.
Cheryse wiped at her eyes. She had her own tragic background, but as Liberty told her story about losing her first husband and child and then a second husband, something shifted inside her. Life could be hard. It wasn't about trying to have a safe life, a perfect life, or even trying to control everything. It was exactly what Hunter had been trying to tell her. She saw that clearly now.
Life was about waking up every day and looking for the good.
Warm chills washed over her, and she thought about Hunter and the past couple weeks. He had brought sunshine into her life and the lives of the people at the salon. She never had to pretend to be something she wasn't around Hunter. She never worried that he would reject her or think she was stupid. She never had to worry about him judging her.
She loved him, and she wanted to tell him.
It was completely the wrong time and a stupid way to do it, but she pulled out her phone and texted him.I'm sorry. And I love you. I broke things off with Roger. I hate it so much when you're right.
She sent the message and grinned down at it.
Liberty was telling everyone how she was finally going to hike the Appalachian Trail, except this time she would do it with her brother. They had been preparing for it. Liberty had wanted to do it for a while now, but it had been more of a distraction. She and Trent had started to build a life together and there had been no word about it.
Liberty stood and picked up her gift, moving to Kensi. “Enough about me. I am here for a baby shower. A party. A Stone family women's party, and I don't want to be disappointed.”
Little Chloe, seeming to sense the jovial mood, rushed over and held her arms up. “Aunt Liberty.”
Liberty laughed and picked her up and held her on her hip. “I've missed you, Chloe.”
Chloe hugged her. “Missed you too.”
The scene was almost too much. Once again, the happy sadness turned palpable.
Kensi grinned despite the tears on her face. “I'm just going to open this present even though I'm crying. Because I'm happy.” She looked around at all of them and grinned wider. “I am.”
Everyone laughed and the baby shower began.
Half an hour later, Cheryse noticed that Hunter still hadn't texted her back. Which was stupid. If only she could take back that text. Who told someone they loved them over text? That was stupid.
She stood and hobbled over to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.
All the women were opening presents and laughing, and it was such a tender mercy to see everyone together again.
She opened the bottle and looked outside.
The ocean was calm. The light shimmered on its surface. Suddenly, she wanted to turn back time to all those years ago, when they were young and would play on the beach for hours. They would surf. They would talk. They would come back here and swim. Mama Stone would feed them and then Hunter would play songs on his guitar.
Another stab of desire filled her. She had to tell Hunter. She had to hold him and let him know she wanted a life with him too.
“A penny for your thoughts,” Lucy said, lightly putting her arm around her.
