Evie glanced back. And then, she was falling. Bouncing and spinning and taking Hayden’s legs out from under him.
“Mama!” Katie cried.
“Shoot,” Eve muttered, flailing about. “Ow.”
Hayden tossed his inner tubes away and hurried to her side. “Evie? Are you hurt?”
“Get up. We need to finish.” Evie managed to get to her knees, still encircled by three inner tubes. But she sucked in a breath as if wounded.
“Evie.” He kept his voice low and steady as Steven and Vi trucked past. “Stop. You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine. I skinned my knee is all.”
She wasn’t fine. He could see it in the way she favored her knee and in the way her hand trembled when she tried to push herself up.
“Don’t,” he said gently, catching her wrist. “Let me check.”
Hayden removed those inner tubes and then helped her to stand. He brushed his fingers around her knee, his touch careful, reverent. Her skin was torn. “Does it hurt?”
“It stings, but I’m fine. We should complete the course.”
Steven was crowing at the finish line, having beaten them.
“I’m not going to regret this ending.” Hayden slid an arm behind Evie’s shoulders and drew her to his chest. She fit there, like she’d always been meant to. He shielded her from prying eyes, from Steven’s judgment, from anyone who threatened her peace of mind.
“I’m sorry,” Evie murmured into his shoulder. “I ruined it.”
Instinctively, he tightened his hold. “You didn’t ruin anything.”
And the truth of those words hit him like a blow.
He hadn’t lost.
He’d chosen Evie, the woman currently reassuring her family she was fine.
And for the first time in a long while, Hayden didn’t feel unworthy because of his choices. Not in the least. For once, he felt that life was the way it was supposed to be—Evie, his return to Bentwood Creek, even his being the executor of Grandpa’s will.
“Family hug!” Katie cried, running to join them, wrapping her arms around their legs. “You did so good.”
Gran and Nellie joined them next, arms wrapping around their waists.
“Can’t have a family hug without Auntie Vi.” She put her arms across several shoulders.
“Hey!” Steven called. “Why are you losers celebrating?”
Evie started to laugh. It was infectious. The rest of the huggers joined in.
“Unbelievable.” Steven stalked past, tossing a T-shirt on Vi’s head. “I should be celebrated. I won.”
Vi broke free of the hug, whipping that T-shirt off her head, balling it up and tossing at Steven’s noggin. “You didn’t win alone, Steven. And I did everything you did while wearing heels.”
“Never underestimate the power of a woman in heels.” Evie beamed at her sister.
Vi nodded. “Especially a Fisher woman.” And then Vi did the unexpected. She smiled at Hayden and said, “Welcome to the family.”
Steven stomped off.
Leaving the huggers laughing as they embraced once more.