Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)

by Catherine Cowles

And wasn’t that what I was hoping to do? Become something that could bloom again after what felt like an endless winter?

I felt Lolli’s eyes bore into me and fought the urge to squirm. “I always thought you were the smart one, but maybe you just hide your stupid with quiet rule-following.”

You didn’t let what you came from define you. You let it teach you. It showed you the kind of dad you’d never be. The kind of man.

“You deserve someone on their knees for you, not someone forcing you to yours.”

As we got her covered in one of my old tees, I couldn’t help but worry about Keely and her mom—and all the ways I’d never felt free to be who I truly was. I didn’t want that for Keely. But the only thing I could do was make sure she felt safe to be who she was with me. And I’d let her paint my whole damn house to do that.

“No, you’re going to listen. I’ve been searching for something for as long as I can remember. Looking for belonging, safety. I’ve been chasing shelter, and you’re the one who finally gave it to me.”