Laurie cleared his throat, careful steps leading him down the aisle. He took his place behind the pulpit, the white, lightning-struck tree curving under his hands.
The pew creaked as Decker settled next to Safine, and she flashed a smile at him and leaned her shoulder against his.
Laurie brushed away sawdust and folded his hand around his wooden rosary. “It’s rather late for a sermon, but I wanted you all to be the first in the new chapel. Ender’s Ridge is my home, and you all have been enlightening.” Laurie lingered on the last word and his eyes, honey brown in the lamplight, caught Decker’s. “I vow to serve you the best I can.”
“Bet you’ll serve Decker real good.” Safine snorted as Decker shot a disapproving look.
Laurie forged ahead. “This chapel is a sanctuary for all of us. This town, our home.” Laurie’s gaze didn’t waver from him, his voice only lowering, as if it was meant just for him. “This man, my salvation.”
Safine coughed, breaking the quiet. “He’s married.”
“Safi.”
“You are,” she laughed, ducking away from Sister Inez’s halfhearted swat at her.
“I’m here for a goddamn sermon, not a love confession we already knew,” Willa said.
“He has been planning this for months, be quiet,” Sister Inez hissed.
“You all are a terrible first congregation,” Laurie sighed, throwing his hands up even as a smile played on his mouth. “TheGooseis still open, I hear they make perfect hot cider.”
Safine hiked her skirts to slide over the edge of the pew and join Laurie in the aisle. “Did you take that over for me while I was gone?”
“Regrettably, the patrons said it wasn’t the same as when you made it.”
“Have to add the powdered toe bones.”
“Safine, you can’t be serious—”
The quartet bickered amongst themselves as they filed out, and still Decker stayed.
On the right wall, an open space gaped with bare pine boards. When they returned from the Dolomites, maybe from India, they would bring rich fabric, spun through with red and gold.
His origin, the final piece of their sanctuary.
Laurie paused at the door. “Are you going to join us, Dev?”
A year ago, Decker would have said he was happy. A life he was fine with, and people he loved, and stability. Here, in the place where he and Laurie were reborn, Decker was finally ready to live.
“I want nothing more,” Decker said. He met him at the doors and cast one last look behind him.
Ender’s Ridge wouldn’t last forever. The people they knew, the people they loved, would pass. One by one, content and old and grey. And they would still be there.
Living sanctuaries, beacons of hope. Covenants of acceptance, no matter the cost.
Mortality bowed to them.
Forever cradled them in her palm, whisperingyou are home.