The Lightkeepers

15

I paused, looking at him. Eventually, I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face

in his chest, not caring anymore. He held me tightly and rubbed my back in a soothing rhythm. I

pulled away after a few moments and smiled weakly. “ Maybe some other time. ”

He nodded in understanding. “ I guess I have a horde to watch. Where ’ s that crossbow

fellow when you need him? ”

I laughed at that, the sound echoing like a river through the lighthouse. My dad grinned.

He took the rifle from me and kissed my forehead.

I joined the rest of my family on their respective meal-time stairs. My mother leaned on

the landing ’ s window sill with a plate in her hands. I had to step over Ellie, who sat casually on a

stair with her knees to her chest, much like I had on that snowy December day a lifetime ago.

Henry sat draped over two stairs, his hair clean and a set of fresh clothes on. I took the plate that

sat waiting for me and collapsed on my stair, taking up my fork and pushed the deer meat around,

playing with the blueberries that someone had picked the other day. My mind wandered again, and

I found myself sitting on those front porch steps in the frozen air, waiting for anyone to come home

and let me in.