"There's this creek down the ravine that I have always wanted to get to. I had been going over there a lot lately, trying to figure out a path. Last night, I thought I had figured it out so I decided to run over there before the sun went down and see if I could get to the creek. I ended up slipping and falling. I think I sprained my ankle."

“Evie! You had us all scared to death. We even called the police! Don't you ever do something like that again!" Kate said, her emotions getting the better of her.

"I know, Mom. I'm so sorry I worried everybody. When I went, I didn't know my phone was almost dead. And Cooper said you guys were yelling for me, but I couldn't hear a thing down there. It was pretty scary staying down there all night.“

Kate reached out and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. "I'm just so grateful that you're alive. I don't know what I would've done…"

"Let's not think about that. Why don't we get you into the house. I'm sure you're starving," Mia said.

"Yeah, I'm hungry, and I'd like to get off of my ankle for awhile."

"I'll take you in the house and get you an ice pack for that ankle," Mia said. Evie leaned on her end as they walked up the steps and into the house.

"She'll be okay,” Cooper said. "Just make sure she elevates that ankle as much as possible today. I hurt mine a few years ago and…"

"Thank you."

He smiled. “You're most welcome, Kate."

"How did you find her?"

"I went out as soon as it was daybreak. And then I started thinking about all of the places around here that I would've been exploring at her age. I remembered the creek, so I decided to check it out."

Without thinking, Kate ran forward and hugged him tightly. He stood there for a moment, his arms hanging by his side, and then pulled her into an embrace. She couldn't deny that it felt right to be standing in his arms.

Finally, she stepped back. "I'm sorry I've been so tough on you."

He smiled. "Let's just call it even."

"I better get inside. I want to soak up as much time as possible with my daughter."

She turned and started walking back toward the house. "Hey, Kate?"

"Yeah?"

"Does saving your daughter qualify me to ask you on an official date?"

She smiled. "Let's just see how well you do on those construction projects first."

She could feel him watching her as she walked back in the house, but she really didn't mind that at all.

Epilogue

Mia couldn't remember a time when she had been more nervous. As they all stood outside on the porch, including Cooper, waiting for Lana Blaze and her wedding party to arrive, she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders.