That afternoon Nora packed her things.
Tom found the bag beside the door.
His stomach dropped.
“What are you doing?”
Nora did not look at him.
“Lily has her father.”
Tom stared.
“Yes.”
“She doesn’t need me pretending to be her mother anymore.”
“Nora.”
“And after everything I kept from you…”
“Nora.”
“I’ll go to Bitter Creek. Mrs. Talbot can—”
“Nora.”
She finally looked at him.
Tom crossed the room.
“You never answered me.”
Her face crumpled.
“What?”
“Last night.”
“Tom…”
“I asked you a question.”
“You asked before you knew.”
“I know now.”
“I lied.”
“You were trying to protect her.”
“I judged you.”
“Probably deserved some of it.”
“You lost six years.”
“So did you.”
Nora stopped.
Tom looked toward Lily, who was outside showing Caleb a wooden horse she had received for Christmas.
“You raised her.”
His voice softened.
“You were there when she was sick.”
Nora cried silently.
“When she took her first step.”
A nod.
“When she said her first word.”
Another nod.
“What was it?”
Nora smiled through tears.
“Bird.”
Tom laughed.
Of course it was.
Nora continued.
“She couldn’t say the R. She said bud.”
Tom’s smile collapsed into grief.
He had missed it.
Nora saw.
She stepped closer.
“Tom…”
He shook his head.
Then took her hand.
“I can spend the rest of my life mourning what I missed.”
He looked through the window at Lily.
“Or I can be there for what’s coming.”
His eyes returned to Nora.
“And I want you there too.”
“Why?”
Tom frowned.
“Because I love you.”
Nora stopped breathing.
Tom looked mildly irritated.
“Didn’t think I’d have to say it twice.”
“You’ve never said it once.”
“I was getting there.”
Despite herself, Nora laughed.
Tom reached for her face.
His thumb brushed away a tear.
“I love you.”
Nora leaned into his hand.
“And if your answer is no, I’ll accept it.”
Tom swallowed.
“But don’t leave because you think you don’t belong here.”
Nora looked around the cabin.
At the repaired chairs.
The bread table.
The little paper stars.
The handmade cradle beside the fireplace.
Then she looked at the quiet man who had spent six years convincing himself he needed nobody.
“Yes.”
Tom blinked.
Nora smiled.
“Yes, Thomas Hale.”
He kissed her.
Caleb entered at precisely the wrong moment.
He stopped.
“Oh.”
Tom did not release Nora.
Caleb backed toward the door.
“I can come back.”
“You can leave forever,” Tom suggested.
Caleb grinned.
“Congratulations.”
Lily ran inside.
“What’s congratulations?”
Caleb pointed.
“Your father’s getting married.”
Lily screamed.
Tom winced.
Nora laughed.
The girl launched herself at both of them.
And for the first time in six years, the cabin did not merely feel occupied.
It felt whole.
They married in March.
Nothing elaborate.
The snow had begun melting.
Caleb stood beside Tom.
Mrs. Talbot cried louder than anyone.
Lily scattered dried wildflowers down the aisle and forgot halfway through, dumping the remaining basket in one pile.
Tom wore the same black coat he had owned for ten years because he refused to buy another.
Nora wore a pale blue dress.
When she reached him, Tom whispered, “You look beautiful.”
Nora raised an eyebrow.
“Careful. People might discover you have feelings.”
“Don’t spread it around.”
Marshal Garrett attended.
Dr. Bell did not.
He died in custody several weeks after Christmas, but not before signing a complete confession.
Augustus Reed’s estate legally passed to Lily.
