All Chapters of The Heaven Hill Generations Series: Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

Mandy"Do you really think I'm ready?"Dr. Crawford looks at me, her gaze intense and strong, almost feeling like it sees through the clothes I'm wearing. "Doesn't matter what I think, Mandy. Do you think you're ready?"But it does matter what she thinks. She's the one who's given me the tools to try and live my life the way it's supposed to be lived. I'm no longer dwelling on the past and wondering about the what if's. Instead, I'm enjoying the right now's."I think so, but I've thought this before too. What if I get in a situation I can't handle?""Then you do all the exercises we've discussed. Your deep breathing, writing things out, thinking things through before you speak, and if that still doesn't help, then you call me. I'll be here whenever you need me, Mandy. I don't give up on my patients, and I don't expect you to know all of the answers when I set you loose. We work through this together - sometimes for a year, sometimes for the rest of your life. This isn't a one

MandyI'm sick to my stomach with fear and excitement as we pull into the parking lot of the clubhouse. There aren't a lot of vehicles parked, so I'm pretty sure my coming home is low-key; exactly how I wanted it. "I think the only people here is your family and Caelin." He puts the SUV in park, shutting off the engine. "Good, I don't know what I would do with a whole group.""Well, I mean, your family classifies as a whole group," he laughs."True, but I'm comfortable with them.""Hey," he says the word softly. "If at any time you need to leave, whether it's your family or not, you just leave. You don't owe anyone anything."I pull my lip between my teeth and nod. "Why am I so nervous?"He grabs my hands, pulling them over the console. "I was nervous to come get you because I didn't know how you'd feel about coming home. I suspect you're nervous because you don't know how they feel about you coming home. It's all the same nervousness. We just gotta get through it."

Dalton"He's asleep," I say as I walk back up from where the dorm rooms are."He'll probably be out all night, he had a big day." Mandy walks over, putting her arms around my waist."It's been a big day for all of us," I remind her."Glad we had cupcakes, though," Caelin interrupts from the computer room.Almost forgot he was here, but I may as well get used to him hanging around.Who knows when he'll be leaving. He keeps the weirdest hours I've ever seen."I'm gonna go take a shower, see you in a few minutes?" Mandy leans up, giving me a lingering kiss."I'll be there as soon as I close up."Most everything is put away, but I waste a few minutes, making sure the trash is taken out and wiping down the counters. I don't know why, but I'm nervous to be alone with her in my dorm. Maybe it's because of the way we left each other the last time, or maybe this is something else totally different."Don't work all night," I tell him, turning off the lights in the main room.

DaltonWaking up with her in my arms is the best feeling in the world. She's snuggled in next to me, her leg wrapped around my waist, her hand on my chest. The alarm is about to go off.I'd give anything to reach over and keep it from announcing the arrival of a new day. We haven't had enough time to enjoy each other, but I know part of her recovery is getting back into a routine. Her routine includes going back to work with Charity.As far as I know, they haven't spoken with each other, even when we welcomed her home. Charity seemed to keep her distance, and I worry. Worry that the two of them won't be able to find their way back to the friendship they've always had. Their friendship is just as important as mine and Drew's. They need each other, probably more than we do. She stirs and I do my best not to move, but eventually her eyes open."Hey." She grins, her voice full of sleep, her eyes lazy and heavy."Hey." I grin back."Why are you awake? The alarm hasn't gone

DaltonWe've settled into a routine, one I'm familiar with, and approve of. Every morning, I wake up to my wife in bed with me, my kid in the next room. She and I share the bathroom space as we get ready for the day. Something we've never done before, and I'm trying to figure out why we haven't. Maybe because we used to be so focused on leaving the house with enough time to get where we were supposed to be.Now, the one hurrying is Walker, but only when he wants to. Someone takes him to school every morning and picks him up in the afternoon. Try as I might, I can't remember another time when we've been so settled.I'm doing my best not to think the other shoe will drop, but at the same time, I'm aware things can't always be perfect. Which is why I'm not surprised when I walk into the common area of the clubhouse to see Drew and Caelin sitting together. "What happened?""Someone broke into Wet Wanda's last night and stole the cash deposit to be made this morning."Now th