Page 72 of The Veteran

I looked around, and for once, my gaze wasn’t drawn to the red smudge on the tiles or the hole in the carpet. Instead, I recalled the good times we’d had here. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to remember what it felt like to be wrapped in one of Mom’s hugs, and how she’d always smelled faintly of lemon. I pictured Dad’s smile as he got home and the way he used to spin Mom around before kissing her in greeting. I imagined us happy because we’d been that way once.

“Now is good.” I struck a match and used it to set a sprig of white sage alight. We watched as it burned, and just before it reached my fingers, I blew it out and placed the embers on an abalone shell. “Pass me the spray.”

Kade handed me a small bottle of homemade Himalayan salt spray and I took it in my left hand, then I circled the interior of the room, murmuring a blessing under my breath as I spread the sage smoke and sprayed cleansing salt into the air. I worked through the house room by room, finishing at the front door.

“Goodbye, and go well,” I whispered, a tear trailing down my cheek. I turned to Kade. “It’s done.”

He embraced me and kissed my forehead. “Do you want to watch?”

“No, I don’t need to.” I’d said my farewell. There was nothing here for me anymore. At least, there wouldn’t be until the construction crew had demolished the house and cleared the grounds. I’d build a new wellness center in its place. It was Kade who’d made the suggestion. It would give me the freedom and independence to do my own thing, and it felt like the perfect way to honor my parents’ memory while creating something positive for the future.

I took his hand. “Let’s go.”

He gestured to the digger driver that they could begin, and as we headed to his car, I heard a crunch behind us but I didn’t look back. From now on, I was strictly looking forward.

KADE

Tears prickled in my eyes and my heart was full to bursting as I took Sage back to our place. I was so proud of her. I knew how hard it must have been to let go of that last connection to her past, but she’d done it and she was going to kick ass with her new wellness center.

Cars lined the street outside our house and I pulled up the drive, which people had thoughtfully left clear. The front door was open and several guests turned toward us as we entered.

Willow was waiting near the entrance and she hurried over and kissed Sage’s cheek. “How are you?”

Sage gave the question some thought. I loved how she did that and didn’t simply throw out the easy answer the way other people might. “I’m good,” she said. “It felt right.”

“I’m so glad to hear that.” Willow passed her a wrapped gift. “For your center.”

Sage opened the gift and smiled widely. “It’s perfect.” She held up a carving of a woman doing yoga, made out of some kind of clear stone. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“The grill is fired up!” Zeke called, sticking his head in through the doors opposite. He caught sight of us and grinned. “Hey, how’d it go? You didn’t happen to take a video of the demolition, did you?”

“Don’t be insensitive,” a woman snapped. Fiona. I rolled my eyes. Those two just couldn’t leave each other alone.

“Sorry.” Zeke held his hands up defensively and vanished back out the door.

Sage and I moved through the room, greeting friends and family. We’d invited the people we most cared about to be here to commemorate the occasion. My business partners, my family, a few of Sage’s friends from yoga, and a handful of King’s Security employees. I nodded to Sean, who was leaning against a wall with a beer in his hand, talking to Vic.

“Do you want a drink?” I asked Sage.

“I’ll make myself a fruit tea,” she replied. “Want me to get you a beer while I’m at it?”

“That’d be great.”

She headed to the kitchen and I wandered over to join Ronan and Joanna, who were speaking intently. They broke off as I approached.

“How is she?” Ronan asked, low enough not to be overheard.

“Amazing.” I didn’t care if I looked and sounded like a sap. “She’s so strong. Fucking incredible.”

“Glad to hear it.” He raised his drink to me in acknowledgment. “Want to weigh in on something for us?”

I glanced between them, noticing the determined set of Joanna’s chin and the gleam in Ronan’s eyes. “Only if it’s not going to get me in trouble.”

Joanna heaved a sigh. “It won’t. At least, not from me.”

I widened my eyes. That sounded like a challenge.