Page 215 of Buried Too Deep

“We. I like that.”

She smiled. “Me too.”

“Can we come to Cincinnati every so often? I’ve missed so much of my nieces and nephews growing up. I don’t want to miss any more.”

“We absolutely can. Besides, Scarlett and I are besties now. She’ll be visiting a lot.”

He groaned quietly. “I’m glad you’re friends, but you two being besties makes me very afraid.”

“It should. It really should.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for sharing your family. I’ve missed having one.” Cora had been enchanted with Phin’s mom, the retired English teacher, and Jackie had been ecstatic that Phin’s girlfriend was a librarian.

He kissed her temple. “They’ve adopted you, like it or not.”

She liked it very much indeed. She’d always miss her mother, her grandmother. John Robert. Her father, who really had been trying to help people, even if he’d gone about it badly.

She’d mourn the loss of Tandy’s friendship, but hoped her oldest friend would someday return to New Orleans.

And someday Cora might even be able to mourn the loss of Patrick. Or, at least, who she’d thought he’d been.

But she’d found new family—Burke’s people and the Bishops had welcomed her with open arms. She wasn’t alone.

“Merry Christmas, Phin.”

“Merry Christmas, Cora Jane.”

---