19. TANNER

19

TANNER

T he winter in Silver Ridge was harsh, the cold biting and relentless. The wind often howled through the trees, and I used to relate to the melancholy of it.

But this year, it felt different. This year, I had Rae with me. Not just around but right here in the cabin. Right here by my side. The long, icy months seemed more bearable. With her, everything seemed brighter, warmer, happier. It had always been like that, and there were so many days where I told myself what a fool I’d been.

But my reasons were out there now. Rae knew who I was, what I’d been running from.

And she loved me anyway.

I still didn’t always believe I wasn’t a monster, but if someone like Rae could love someone like me… it had to be true.

We spent our days huddled in the warm cabin, planning our future together .

The cabin, which was once a place to hide away from the world, my solitary confinement, was now filled with love and warmth and happiness.

Rae’s pregnancy was progressing well, and as her belly grew bigger and the little kiddo started kicking, my excitement grew, too.

I’d never imagined I could be a dad, but these days, I couldn’t imagine anything else. Soon, I was going to look after a little girl, or teach a little boy to hunt, and I couldn’t wait for that.

I went to town more often, too. Not just for supplies or to walk Rae home when she got bigger and slower and more and more exhausted, but to connect with the people I’d kept at arm’s length.

Silver Ridge was a small town, but its residents had big hearts, I learned. It had taken me all these years to start letting them in, and I found friends in every one of them.

The sheriff, Caleb Johnson, had become a regular part of our lives. His sturdy build and no-nonsense demeanor always made me feel like someone else was keeping an eye on Rae. After all, he’d been instrumental in making sure Rae was safe, and for that, I would be eternally grateful.

Jethro was behind bars now, thanks to Bear. When Bear had left us in the forest and disappeared, I’d thought it was just to get away from the cops, because he was hiding up in the mountains for a reason, too. But my old friend had tracked Jethro down on the mountain first and brought him to justice before he’d retreated for the winter again.

Knowing Jethro was no longer a threat allowed Rae to breathe easier, and it set me at ease, knowing that he couldn’t hurt her again. Sheriff Johnson kept us updated on the case, and having him visit so often to make sure Rae had what she needed was a constant reminder that we were safe.

The days turned into weeks, and I started to notice how much Rae enjoyed being in town, mingling with the locals. She wasn’t a recluse the way I’d been for so long. When we’d lived in Seattle, she’d always had a lot of friends and it didn’t have to be any different here.

I started to see Silver Ridge through her eyes—a warm place where she had friends, a community where she could belong.

Where we could both belong.

People I had barely spoken to before now greeted me with smiles and nods. Hank often stopped to chat, and Millie from the diner always had a hot meal ready for us in case we wanted to have a meal in town before heading up to the cabin for the long, cold nights.

Being together, alone in the cabin, was still my favorite part, though. There, I could have Rae all to myself and dote on her.

But the cabin, cozy as it was, wouldn’t be big enough for our growing family. I wanted to give Rae and our baby something more—a proper home. I had spent my life running away from everything, but now it was time to turn around and build something instead. I channeled the energy I’d poured into surviving into creating a new life for us.

With the help of some of the townsfolk, I started building a house. Hank offered his expertise in carpentry, and Sheriff Johnson lent a hand whenever he could. Even Millie’s husband, Bob, who was a retired builder, joined in. It was a collaborative effort, and it wasn’t just a house we were building. With so much love and support, it was already a home.

Rae was curious. I couldn’t just get something by her. She knew I was up to something, but she trusted me enough not to pry. The fact that she trusted me meant everything. She had a right not to trust me, to be scared that I would do something behind her back, that I would leave—I’d given her so many reasons to think that I had another agenda. But she’d told me the past was in the past, and she treated me every day with the love, trust, and respect that came with a clean slate.

One cold, crisp morning, as the sun rose and painted the snow-covered mountainside with splashes of gold, it was time to show Rae what we had been working on.

The closer she got to her due date, the more uncomfortable she was. I wanted her to be able to rest, and I wanted her closer to the support network the town had become. If something happened to her on the edge of town, she was close enough that I wouldn’t be the only one who could help.

“Come on,” I said, holding out my hand when we were on our way home after her last day at work before her maternity leave. She’d insisted she still wanted to work, even though I had more than enough money to carry us for the rest of our days. “I have a surprise for you.”

“What kind of surprise?” She put her hand on her belly without realizing it, lifting it a little to offer support.

“You’ll see. But you’ll need to wear this.” I pulled out a blindfold, and she laughed.

“You’re making me wear this all the way through the forest?”

“We’re not going that far,” I said. “Just trust me.” I secured the blindfold over her eyes.

“I do trust you, Tanner,” she said softly, and warmth flooded me.

I led Rae through the snow-covered path, guiding her carefully to ensure she didn’t trip. I held onto her one hand, arm around her body on her other elbow to keep her safe and secure.

The house wasn’t far, just on the edge of town. We would still be between the trees, but it was closer to town, making it more convenient, especially with the baby on the way. The cold air was biting, but I was so excited about the new home, I didn’t feel it.

“How much further?”

“Almost there,” I led her toward the little gate that opened into the yard.

I paused for a moment, taking in the sight. It was a modest house, not too big and elaborate, but it was sturdy. It had a large yard, perfect for our child to play in, maybe even for a dog, and it was nestled at the edge of the forest, giving us the privacy Rae had come to love as much as I did.

“Okay, we’re here.” I removed the blindfold, watching Rae’s face as she took in the sight before her.

Rae gasped and pressed her hands to her mouth. “Tanner… what is this?”

I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her cheek.

“Welcome home, sweetheart.”

“You did all this for us?”

“With a lot of help from our friends,” I admitted. “I wanted to give you and our baby a proper home. A place where we can make new memories.”

She hugged me tightly, her warmth seeping through my clothes, her belly between us so that we bracketed the baby.

“Come on,” I said, leading her to the front door. “There’s more to see.”

We stepped inside, and I led her through the house, showing her all the rooms I’d planned out.

I’d furnished it already, getting someone in to design it. I didn’t splurge on a mansion for us, but I didn’t spare a single penny when it came to decoration and making sure that Rae was comfortable.

The living room was spacious, with a large fireplace that would keep us warm during the harshest winters. The kitchen was modern and well equipped, a perfect space for Rae to continue her love of cooking.

Our bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with a large waterfall shower, a deep corner tub, and a double basin with two mirrors to round it off.

But the real highlight was the baby’s room.

I led her down the hallway to a room painted in soft, soothing colors. It was empty for now.

“This is the baby’s room,” I said. “I didn’t decorate it—you can do that.”

Rae had wanted to wait to find out if it was a girl or a boy, and the designer had painted the baby’s room in a light gray with a mint green accent wall and a plush beige carpet.

“It’s perfect,” she whispered and turned to me. “Thank you.”

“I wanted to give you the life you deserve,” I said. “You and the baby deserve the best life possible.”

She cupped my face in her hands, her eyes shining with love. “You’ve already given me that, Tanner.” She planted a kiss on my lips. “This is more than I ever dreamed of. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, babe,” I said and kissed her, lingering a little longer. “I can’t wait to start this new chapter with you.”

The winter was still long and cold, but Rae had chipped away at the ice around my heart, defrosting me, and I didn’t even feel the cold. And soon, the spring would come and with that, the next part of our story.

And I couldn’t wait for our happy ending.