I removed the picture from the album and walked across the room to the empty frame on the mantle that sat beneath the flat screen hanging on the back wall. I inserted the photo, careful to only touch the edges, and placed it next to one of the small lanterns with an antler base I’d found in a box in Taylor’s room. The metal flecks in the frame made it stand out, and I hoped it would make them smile like it did me.

I sat down on the sofa again with a mug of hot buttered rum and cider, leaning back and letting my muscles relax. Tyler’s absence had helped him focus on missing me instead of our last argument, and our nightly phone calls made it harder for me to deny that I missed him.

The changing leaves on the Aspen trees around Estes Park were beginning to show early signs that fall was upon us. Fire season was just weeks away from being over.

My phone was connected to Taylor’s Bluetooth speaker in the corner with Halsey’s album on loop, and I was waiting on Tyler’s call. He’d stayed in Colorado Springs during his first R&R because the fire still wasn’t contained. He’d said the night before that they were close to calling the ground crews, and I was hopeful that this R&R they could come home.

The lock shimmied, and the door opened, and I startled, then turned around to see Tyler standing in the doorway in shock.

“Honey, I’m … holy shit.” He leaned back, looking at the number on the door. “Am I in the right place?”

I stood, holding out my hands and letting them fall to my thighs. “Welcome home.”

Tyler looked at me for the longest time, a dozen emotions scrolling across his face.

“What?” I giggled nervously, setting my mug on a coaster.

He dropped his bag and took three long strides before wrapping his arms around me and planting a deep kiss on my mouth. He cupped my jaw, and then the kisses slowed, less passionate and more careful, giving me a few more pecks before pulling away.

He bit his bottom lip, tasted the cider on his lips, and looked down at the mug. “What is that? Rum?”

I smiled. “Just a little with my cider. It’s been a long day.”

“It’s been a long month. A really long month.” He took turns looking at both of my eyes, his warm brown irises bouncing back and forth while he thought of something adequate to say. He scanned my face, sliding his thumb along my bottom lip.

He shook his head. “What is that amazing smell?”

“The candles.”

“Candles.” He breathed out a laugh. “In my apartment. Taylor is going to shit a wildcat.”

“I can get rid of them. I just thought—”

“They’re great. You didn’t have to do all this.”