Caelyn seemed to understand my battle and squeezed my free hand, whispering in my ear. “We’re fine. We’ve got a security system that would make the White House jealous, and the panic room if anything goes wrong.” A muscle along my jaw ticked, and Caelyn squeezed my hand again. “I promise. Nothing is going to happen. Go get some paint so we can keep this happy train rolling.”

I pressed a quick kiss to Caelyn’s mouth. “Okay, but keep your phone on you.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” she quipped.

My eyes narrowed at her. “I might be making you bring that back but in an entirely different context.”

Caelyn blushed furiously and I chuckled. “Okay. I’ll be back in an hour.”

The girls were already chattering away about what they were going to do with their room, lost in their plans and dreams. Will gave me a mock salute, and Caelyn shooed me out of the room.

My trip to the hardware store had me adding all sorts of other things to my to-do list for the farmhouse. The kids needed a treehouse and a swing set. One that would make my little gymnast’s eyes bug out. And something with a reading nook for Ava. As I made the drive back to the house with a dozen paint samples in hand, I started designing the structures in my head. It would be the perfect project to tackle with Will. He could be in charge of the design.

I rolled down my window to plug in the code for the gate. Just as I passed through, my phone beeped. An alert. Cain’s security system. My blood turned to ice as I pulled up the camera feed and saw two figures running away from the fence. Towards the farmhouse.

48

Caelyn

I leaned back, bracing my elbows against one of the deck’s steps, and tipped my face up to the sun. Breathing deeply, I took in the scent of the pines, the hint of salt in the air. The giggles from Ava and Mia as they chased Luci around the yard.

Will eased down next to me. “Happy?”

I smiled at my brother. “You know, despite all the crazy, terrifying moments of the past few months, I am.”

“Good.” There was a ferocity in his tone. As though if I weren’t happy, he’d do everything in his power to make it so.

“What about you?”

Will’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “It’s weird. But so much of what I was worried about…it just seems like it’s all gone in the blink of an eye. Harriet taking care of college. Griffin taking care of you—”

“Hey, now,” I said, giving his shoulder a slug. “I’m very capable of taking care of myself.”

“I know you are, but someone needs to have your back.”

“You’ve got a mighty big heart in there, you know that?”