He supposed it was a form of therapy, and he didn't mind that it had taken so long. Tonight he was going to treat them all to the best dinner he could afford, and they would sleep without lights, and tomorrow they would leave this damned place behind.

He dragged the nail keg back to the shed, and after a moment's thought buried the gull by the threshold. Then he returned to his spot and looked at the place where he'd thought he'd found a home, and understood-he hoped-that his home was at the motel with Peg.

What the hell, he thought, grinning; started over once, I can start over again.

He turned, then, and saw Matt standing at the top of the slope.

He didn't know whether to scold or laugh… laughed when the boy raced into his arms, hugged him and held his hand.

"We couldn't wait," he said eagerly. "We couldn't wait!"

Colin crouched and faced the water, and Matt stood behind him with his chin on the man's shoulder, his arms around Colin's chest. He felt tears in his eyes, and felt so damned fine he wanted to shout.

"There," he said, pointing to Haven's End, "is where you and I met, pal, and that's the way we should remember it."

"Are we going to live somewhere else?"

"What do you think about New England?"

"Is it pretty? Does it have an ocean?"

"Yes, yes, and there are mountains and lots of deer and moose and bear and raccoons, and it's going to be just… just great."

"You'll paint again!" Matt said excitedly.

"You can bet on it."

"The kids…"

Colin reached up and cupped the back of the boy's head. "I won't let them make fun of you, Matt. You do just what you always do, and I'll be there to help you." Then he rose, stretched and imagined the others waiting, just over the rise. God, it'll be great to be human again.

"You and me, we'll take care of Mom, too." He lifted the binoculars; one last check before the end.

"And I'll take care of you."

He closed his eyes tightly, opened them, blinked and watched the island through the snow.

"I miss Lilla," Matt said forlornly. "She was my friend."