Page 36 of 15 Summers Later

“She’s probably fine. I think everyone else is okay for now.”

“You know I’m available for you whenever you need me, right?”

She gave her half smile. “I know. Thank you. I never could have made it this far with the sanctuary if not for your help.”

“I’m happy it’s working out.” He paused. “I’ll see you tomorrow at dinner, right?”

She made a face. “I still haven’t decided if I’ll be there or not.”

“You have to go. I need you to help me cheer up Sierra. She’s going to be moping around like a...”

“Like a girl who’s just lost her best friend?”

“Yes. Exactly like that.” He smiled. “Surely you wouldn’t abandon her in her hour of need. Plus we’re celebrating her birthday. You can’t miss that.”

She sighed. “I don’t want to talk to Ava.”

“You know how hectic things can be at my mom’s Sunday dinners. A few dozen people, filling up the whole house and the yard. If you don’t want to speak with someone, it’s easy enough to avoid them.”

“I don’t know. I’ll have to see.”

He decided to stick his neck out even further.

“You should think about making your peace with Ava. She’s your only sister.”

“Sure. I’ll think about it. As soon as people stop throwing that stupid book in my face, bringing it up again and again.”

“You’re going to be waiting a long time, I’m afraid. I suspectGhost Lakewill only gain more traction as time goes on. Your story is one that resonates with people on many levels.”

“Why?” she burst out. “That’s the part I don’t understand. Who even cares about something that happened fifteen years ago? It barely even made the papers when it happened.”

“Because it’s a story of survival and courage. We need those kinds of stories as much now as ever.”

“We didn’t do anything that remarkable,” she muttered.

“You were two young girls who endured months of imprisonment at the hands of a violent group of adults who were heavily armed, then somehow found the courage to escape from them. You went on the run into the wilderness with nothing but your own grit. You survived days on your own, living on berries and roots and tree bark and drinking from mountain streams. Then, in that final confrontation, when you were seconds from being rescued by authorities, you were shot in the head.”

That was another memory that lived on in his nightmares.

“Yet somehow you survived, again by that sheer force of indomitable will, and have rebuilt your life. People need stories like that.”

“Fine. They can get them somewhere else. I never wanted to be the center of attention. I prefer to focus on the animals who need homes, not on something that happened fifteen years ago.”

With that, she opened the door and climbed out. “I need to go.”

“Okay,” he said, sensing she had talked about this all she wanted to. “What about tomorrow?”

She sighed. “Now who is the relentless one? Maybe. If I go, it will be for Sierra’s sake. Not to make up with Ava.”

He watched her move toward the small farmhouse, which needed paint.The animals come first, Madi had said when he suggested she spend some of their recent, generous gift to spruce up the house.

She walked up the steps, her gait slightly uneven from the brace she wore on her left leg, and waved at him when she opened the door.

He knew Madi worried everyone looked at her with pity, that they only saw her weaknesses.

He wanted her to see herself as he did. As the rest of the world was beginning to, thanks to Ava’s book—as a remarkable woman, an example of strength and courage and grace.

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