Forever, Again

by Victoria Laurie

  “I do,” Mom said, smiling, too.

  “Very well, Lily,” my grandmother said. “I agree to your terms, but I have one of my own.”

  “Yes?” I asked.

  “You must spend one Sunday a month with me for tea. I will not let you out of my life that easily.”

  I grinned. “I can live with that.”

  IN MID-OCTOBER, THE HEAT wave we’d had all summer finally broke, making the outdoor temps absolutely perfect for sitting outside on a Saturday, soaking up the sun and enjoying the outdoors.

  Cole and I were relaxing in the new lounge chairs that Mom had bought. It was the perfect way to spend my birthday, chilling out on the deck, which extended from the new house we’d moved into the week before. It was so nice to be able to hang out in our very own place again.

  Mom and Dad had come to an agreement about their divorce shortly after he and Grandmother made up. Well, made up the best that those two could. Dad and I were on speaking terms again, but only because he’d been making a huge effort to apologize to me. Hell, he’d even apologized to Mom, and for a man who almost never admitted when he was wrong, that was pretty big.

  So we were all getting along much better, and Jenny had even been invited over for tea with Grandmother. I bet Jenny was loving that.

  Still, Dad had asked me to be involved in my baby brother’s life when he finally arrived sometime in December. I’d agreed, although this whole big-sister thing was going to take some getting used to.

  Cole’s grandmother had been indicted and was awaiting trial. I think Cole and I were both surprised that, once she got to the station, she’d made a full confession. Her lawyer, however, had talked her into pleading not guilty, and I couldn’t imagine what kind of a defense he’d put on in the face of all the evidence Cole and I had uncovered as well as her confession. The trial would be months away, so we’d see.

  Cole’s mom had been really upset by the whole thing, and I felt so sorry for her. She truly hadn’t known any of it, and I suspected she felt guilty for not having guessed it. In the week that followed the arrest of her mother, Mrs. Drepeau had shed a lot of tears, and Cole had been really worried about her. Who would’ve thought that my own grandmother would’ve stepped up without my asking her to do something really amazing to help Mrs. Drepeau move forward?

  Grandmother had used her powerful position on the board of the hospital to get the administration to offer Stacey Drepeau the head RN job on the floor of the ICU. She’d be making a lot more money, and wouldn’t have to work any more weekends, and I thought that was probably a pretty good restitution on the part of my grandmother.

  Another amazing thing had happened once the story hit the local news. A package had arrived and inside was a photo of Sara Radcliff and Amber, taken sometime during their senior year, or so the accompanying card said. Sara had written me a note that read,

  Lily,

  From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. The best friend I ever had in the world is now finally at peace. And even though we only met briefly, I sense that you must be every bit a good soul, and a good friend as Amber was. Your best friend must be so lucky to have you in her life. May this photo rest next to the photo of the two of you to remind you that true friendships never die.

  With love,

  Sara

  I’d cried after reading the card, but I’d taken the framed photo of Amber and Sara up to my room and set it on my desk. Then I’d rummaged through a special box I’d kept hidden under my bed, and I’d brought out a framed photo of Sophie and me, in our fishtail braids, hugging each other and looking forward to a future where we’d be best friends forever. The gift from Sara had felt so magical, and I’d had the strongest feeling that Amber had somehow influenced Sara’s decision to send me the image and the note.

  “Message, received,” I’d said to her photo, and I’d known in that moment that I could find a way to forgive Sophie simply because having her in my life meant more to me than almost anything else.

  In the meantime, Cole and I had continued to hang out, and we’d officially changed our statuses to “In a relationship” on both our Facebook profile pages. I found myself falling in love with him with each passing day.

  And today, on my birthday, he and I had gone with Mom to pick up our newest addition—a little eight-year-old, twelve-pound mixed breed named Scamp, whom we’d rescued from the shelter. Mom was currently walking around with him, rocking him in her arms.

  “He’s so adorable!” she kept saying. I think she already loved him more than I did.

  Cole leaned over when Mom went in to get the pup some water and kissed me sweetly. When he lifted his face away, he set something in my hand.

  “What’s this?” I asked, looking down at the rectangular box covered in pink wrapping paper that he’d given me.

  “Open it,” he replied, without even a hint of what it was.

  I pulled at the wrapping paper and got the lid off to reveal a gorgeous bracelet made of perfectly spaced beads of amber. “Ohmigod,” I whispered. “Cole!”

  “You like it?”

  “I love it!” I said.

  “I made it,” he added proudly.

  I laughed. “I can tell!” He helped me put it on and I admired it on my wrist. He still wore the amber bead at his neck, and I loved that he continued to silently honor Amber that way.

  Cole had been the one to visit Mrs. Greeley and tell her what’d happened. He’d apologized to her on behalf of his family and he told me she’d cried for a long time, but she’d thanked him in the end. She’d told him he’d brought her peace and she knew her daughter could finally rest.

  I knew it, too.

  The doorbell rang and I sprang to my feet, almost too excited for words. “I’ll get it!” I yelled as I raced past the screen door, through the living room, down the hallway, and to the front door. Taking just a moment to pause in front of the mirror hanging in the front foyer, I smoothed out my hair and tried to compose myself. When I opened the door I saw a beautiful girl there with long black hair, big brown eyes, and a smile as wide as Georgia.

  “Lily!” she cried, flinging her arms around me.

  I hugged her back so tight and felt the tears slide out from tightly closed lids. For a long time, we were too overcome to speak, and we just stood there hugging each other. At last we pulled away and I reached down and took her hand, silently thanking Amber for inspiring me to make this moment happen.

  “Come to the back,” I said. “I can’t wait for you to meet my boyfriend!”

  Taking charge of her, I marched us through the house to the deck again, and when Cole turned to look up at us I said, “Cole, meet my best friend, Sophie. Sophie, this is Cole.”

  I’D VERY MUCH LIKE TO EXPRESS my sincerest gratitude to my dear friend and agent, Jim McCarthy, my wonderful editor, Kieran Viola, and everyone else at Hyperion who has worked so hard to bring this novel together.

  I’d also like to thank all those in my personal life who consistently support (i.e. don’t seem to mind) the long hours I work; the missed weddings, parties, weekends, and evenings out I fail to attend; the emails, cards, gifts, and letters I either flat-out ignore or am horribly late to acknowledge; and my general appearance on those mornings when I’m waaaaay behind deadline. You all have the patience of saints, and I’m very happy you’re all still in my corner!

  Last, one very special shout-out to my amazing sister, Sandy, and her beautiful beau, Steve. This book is for the two of you. Love you. In this life and the next.

  VICTORIA LAURIE is the New York Times best-selling author of the critically acclaimed YA thriller When, and also writes extensively in the adult paranormal mystery genre. She currently lives and works in a quaint little suburb in Michigan where she provides food, love, and shelter to a lippy parrot named Doc and a ginger-colored pup named Ember. To find out more about her and her books, please visit victorialaurie.com.

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