“I couldn’t do that. Who’d get you into trouble?”
I grinned, leading him inside.
“Besides,” he continued, “you’re like my bossy little sister. You’re cranky ninety percent of the time, but I’d miss your constant nagging.”
I punched his arm.
“See? We really came over to help out with the painting,” he said. “Have a little housewarming together. It’s the first time there isn’t an emergency going on.”
“Don’t jinx it,” I warned him.
After a lot of catching up, and very little painting, the four of us sat in the overgrown back garden to catch the last of the sun.
“You really need to sort this forest out,” Carl said, almost looking like his old self. His face had more lines, his hair had streaks of grey and white that managed to look pretty cool, and his eyes had a sadness in them, but he was still Carl.
“I’ll get around to it. What’s new with you?”
“I should be back at work soon.”
“Oh? With Maria’s father?”
He grinned, and he definitely looked like the old Carl. “Not exactly.”
“Oh, no way. Eddie again?”
“I need a job. Maria’s dad pretty much hates me now. I can’t sit at home doing nothing. Don’t worry. It isn’t for the same reasons as before. I’ve learned my lesson. And look.” He opened his shirt and revealed a massively intricate Celtic tattoo. “Blessed ink,” he said proudly. “Like Peter’s, only better.”
“I heard that, you big lunk.”
I listened to the banter between my friends and felt totally at ease for the first time in a very long time. I had finally found a place I could settle down in and friends who didn’t judge me, no matter how many stupid mistakes I made. Even Esther hadn’t turned her back on me, despite her brother’s urging.
A cool breeze blew my hair, and I smiled at the sensation. Maeve hadn’t left me for good either. I tilted my head to the sun and closed my eyes, savouring the moment because it felt like a perfect one. Life was never what I expected it to be, but I had made it this far, and it was looking good. I still had humanity, I had friends, I even had work to do that I believed in. Even better, I had discovered that family wasn’t always what you were given, but what you made it.
I had spent so long pining for a family of my own, and I had finally found it in a weird way. I’d wasted time looking for acceptance. There were people in my life who gave it freely, unconditionally.
I had a family after all, just a very different kind.
###
Thank you for reading this book. If you enjoyed Ava’s adventures, look out for Taken (Ava Delaney #4) due for release in 2012.
Feel free to visit my author blog, or to email me with any questions or comments.
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