Page 113 of Awakened by Sin

“How long have you known about them?”

“From their first date.” Maddie gave her a small smile. “Mom’s great.”

Hearing Maddie call her mom that gave her all the feels. Life definitely moved on. She cleared her throat. “She sure is.”

“My mom died when I was eleven. Breast cancer,” Maddie said quietly. “Dad’s been alone for a long time. I’m happy for him.”

“So am I.”

“I know about your husband,” Maddie said quietly. “It was in the papers.”

She let out a long breath. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry.”

She nodded because there was nothing to say.

“We spread Mom’s ashes in the backyard. We’d never sell this house because of that.”

Carmen looked around at what felt like a sprawling ranch house. “I can see why. It’s beautiful.”

“I’m boarding at college to give them privacy.” Maddie tilted her head toward their parents. “But I like to come home when I don’t have classes. Levi is going to freak out.”

“Levi?”

“My brother.” Maddie crossed her arms and grinned. “I don’t know what he’s going to notice first. You or that Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante.”

Carmen grinned. “You know your cars.”

“You’re forced to when you live with mechanics.”

She settled into her corner of the couch and hugged an oversized pillow to her chest. “This is nice.”

This house seemed untouched by anything twisted and evil. Mom looked comfortable and settled here. The pictures on the mantle and walls showed a happy family who had lived a full life. Despite the years it had been since Marv’s wife passed, the house still maintained the essence of her. Marv didn’t become resentful or abusive. He took care of his family and worked hard, and the result was here in front of her. Maddie had grown up without a mother, but she seemed secure and grounded. She wasn’t resentful of their presence.

“You’re taking this well,” she said.

Maddie’s brows rose. “I am?”

“We’re moving in on your turf.”

Maddie laughed, and the beautiful sound was music to her ears. “I freaked out when I first found out, but I met Mom and …” She shrugged. “Some things are meant to be, you know?” She glanced into the kitchen before she leaned forward. “Dad told me how you reacted.” She gave her two thumbs up. “What’s good for them is good for us, right?”

That painful clenching sensation in her chest eased ever so slightly. Maddie’s innocence made the night at The Pussy seem like a bad dream rather than something she participated in. Carmen rose and gave her new sister a long hug before she settled beside her on the couch.

“Yes, what’s good for them is good for us,” she agreed.

Maddie’s wise eyes tracked her face. “You need a nap.”

Carmen let out a choked laugh. “I do.” She needed a lot of things, but a nap sounded the best at the moment. Maddie smelled of vanilla and honey. She settled against her sister who didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable. This seemed like a good place to lick her raw wounds and recover.

“You want to watchPsych?” Maddie asked.

“What’sPsych?”

“It’s a show about a guy who’s super observant and solves crimes from clues police post on the news. When he tries to collect his reward money for solving a crime, they think he’s a suspect, so he has to act like a psychic instead. It’s really funny.”

She settled against Maddie. “That sounds perfect. I’m in.”

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