Jill smiled and quickly kissed her. “See you when you get back.” She exited the car and waved as Reagan pulled away. Walking to her car, a weird feeling settled in her chest and for once, it didn’t scare her. She missed Reagan already and knew that would get worse as the week went on. But it also left her feeling hopeful. She never missed anyone. Reagan was changing that.

With a satisfied smile, she headed home.

Chapter Nineteen

As her week in Michigan came to a close, Reagan sat with her mom on the back porch of their cabin overlooking a quiet, clear lake. Wrapped in a large wool blanket, Reagan drank from her mug of tea as she enjoyed the vibrant colors reflecting off the water as the sun set. Despite being bundled up, the crisp air cut through the layers enough to cause occasional shivers. But she couldn’t go in, not when it was her last night to revel in the peace around her.

Reagan and her mom had spent the beginning of their week in this very spot, chatting about the past and everything that came with it. The pain, the laughs, the longing for her dad. After spreading her dad’s ashes yesterday, they’d also had several conversations about how to navigate their future and what each thought their new normal might look like. Thankfully, they agreed that their future held many trips back to this cabin.

As this was their last night, Reagan was thinking about things that might happen once they headed home. She picked at a fraying piece of wood on the arm of her deck chair. “Do you think you’ll sell the house?”

Her mom rocked her chair back and forth. Finally, she let out a breath and looked at Reagan with a bittersweet smile. “No. I don’t think I can. It’s…It’s hard some days. Everything in that house reminds me of him. His slippers in the closet. The last book he was reading on the coffee table. His favorite pint glass in the cupboard.” She offered Reagan a sad smile. “No matter where I go, he’ll be with me. And for that, I’ll always be grateful. We’ve been in that house since you were five. It holds a lot of memories, and I hope that we will keep adding to those memories in the years to come. Wouldn’t mind seeing a grandkid or two playing in the backyard, ya know?” Her mom took a sip from her mug of tea. “Speaking of, how is Jill?”

“Nice segue, Mom,” Reagan replied with an eye roll.

“What?” she asked as she placed her hand over her heart and batted her eyelashes several times. “I’m just making conversation. Seeing what’s new in your world. Doing my motherly duty, if you will.”