Page 151 of One Last Shot

Stella nodded, confusion in her expression, and stepped aside for him to enter.

The room opened into a kitchen, and through a sliding glass door, he spotted a pool, smoke billowing from a barbeque.

A cake sat on the kitchen island, along with a stack of plastic cups and plates, a bowl of potato salad, and cut-up watermelon.

He set down the guitar and dug an envelope out of his pocket. Handed it to Stella.

She took it, frowned, and opened it.

Her mouth opened as she drew out the check. “I don’t... Wait. This is...” She looked up. “Wait. This is from Courageous Hearts.”

“Yeah. That’s . . . me.”

A beat.

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m Hollie Montgomery’s brother.”

She nodded. “I know that.”

“And, well, I... you see, that night that Hollie hit your car, she was fresh off a family argument with me and?—”

She held up her hand. “I can’t take this.”

“What?”

“Oaken.” She gave him a soft smile. “Hollie’s already been forgiven. It was an accident. A terrible accident. But God uses all the darkness for good.”

Words hung in his head...“Love wants to do amazing thingsthrough you.”

“Yes. He does. And part of that is my ability to help Maggie’s Miracles.”

She considered the check, her mouth tightening. When she looked up again, tears glistened. “Have you been held hostage all this time?”

Oh.

Boo took his hand and squeezed.

“Oaken Fox, whatever went down between you and your sister, whatever blame you feel in this... you’re forgiven.” Then Stella stepped forward and put her arms around his neck.

His throat burned, but he managed to put one arm around her.

Boo had stepped away and now grinned at him.

Stella finally let go. Put her hands on his shoulders. “I think Maggie is going to lose her mind.” She winked.

So this was what a full breath, what wholeness, felt like.

“Ready?” he said to Boo. “Because you know this is going on social media.”

She held up her fist and he bumped it. He took out his guitar from the case, slung it over his shoulder, and followed Stella to the sliding door, pausing as she stepped outside and got Maggie’s attention.

Maggie sat in a wheelchair, dressed in a pink sundress, her hair up, laughing with a group of friends. Her mother walked over. Bent and whispered something into Maggie’s ear.

He could guess her words, at least in part, when Maggie turned and her eyes rounded.

“Let’s go, hero,” Boo said and practically pushed him out the door.