“It’s what I’m here for. You and Kelly. Always.”
“And Gavin.” His voice was warmer now. Filling with life. “Mom texted us. Said you did what you should have done a long time ago. Book helped, huh?”
I laughed and laughed.
IT WENT LIKE THIS:
She was in the kitchen, singing along with the radio.
Johnny and his guitar again.
Of course it was.
She swayed side to side.
I went to her.
She laughed when I bowed low, my arm across my chest.
She took my hand in hers, the other coming to my shoulder.
We danced.
She said, “I’m proud of you. Do you know that?”
I nodded. “I do. Every day.”
She said, “When you left, I was so angry, even though I knew in my heart you were following yours. Sometimes we have to let the ones we love go so that they may learn the world for themselves.”
“I came back,” I told her. “I’ll always come back.”
Her eyes were wet. “Will you? Why?”
“Because this is my home. You’re my home.”
She said, “You are your father’s son. I see it now more than ever. He’s here.”
My hands shook. “Is he?”
She never looked away from me. “We’re never alone. It may feel like we are, but here, in this place, the moon gives back for all we’ve sacrificed to her. I believe that with all my heart. He’s watching. He knows. We’ll hear his song before the end.”
We danced on.
IT WENT LIKE THIS:
Gavin was sitting on our bed in our room. He looked up at me as I entered. I froze in the doorway when I saw what was in his hands.
My mother’s stone wolf, now his.
He said, “I want this. You. Me.”
“I hope so. Otherwise we’re pretty much screwed already.”
He scowled at me. “Not funny.”
“A little funny.”
He sighed. “I changed my mind.”