Page 125 of 15 Summers Later

Ava mustered a smile, which broke Madi’s heart all over again. She remembered the beautiful words her sister had written and especially how Ava had describedher.

Not as weak, damaged. Someone to be protected.

But as a warrior who had given Ava strength when she needed it.

“Cullen says you went up to Ghost Lake in the middle of a rainstorm to bring him back down. Thank you. I didn’t know how much I needed him here until I woke up and found him.”

“I’m glad it helped. I couldn’t think of anything else to do.”

“Do you remember what Mom always used to say? When you don’t know what to do, just do the next right thing.”

Madi felt a pang of loss for their wise mother, who had held them all together.

“Bringing Cullen here,” Ava went on. “That was the next right thing. He was exactly what I needed so that we can...can start the grieving process together.”

Madi moved to her sister and hugged her, thinking Ava felt fragile in her arms. She wasn’t, though. She was fierce and strong and amazing.

“Where is he? He didn’t go back, did he?”

“No. He’s in the shower right now. He’s going to drive me in my car to Grandma’s house and we’ll stay there together for a couple of days. When I’m feeling a little better, after I’ve seen my doctor here, I thought I would go up to the dinosaur camp with him for a few weeks.”

She stared. “To Ghost Lake? Really?”

Ava shrugged. “It’s only a place, right? Someone I love told me that. Once, some terrible things happened there. Despite that, it’s still a beautiful place. I decided I need some happy memories to replace the dark ones.”

“I read the book last night.” She hadn’t intended to blurt the words out like that but now they hovered between them.

Ava stared. “You... When?”

“After Luke brought us back here. I couldn’t sleep. My mind was whirling too fast from everything, so I picked up Nicki’s copy. And then I couldn’t stop reading.”

Ava looked nervous, suddenly. She swallowed and looked down at her hands. Madi touched her arm.

“It’s a beautiful book, Ava. Everyone is right. You’ve written a gripping, compelling story about the terrible things that happened to us. It should have been awful, reliving it all again but...it wasn’t. I laughed a dozen times. And cried more than a few. I’m so proud of you, Ava.”

Her sister looked stunned at the praise, and Madi felt guilty all over again for being so negative and whiny all summer about her sister’s book.

“Thank you for writing it—and not only because the Emerald Creek Animal Rescue was the biggest beneficiary. It’s a story that needed to be told. And it needed to be told by you.”

Ava gazed at her for a long moment, then sniffled and gave a half laugh at the same time. “I thought I didn’t have any more tears left.”

“If you really want a good cry, I’ve got this great book you should read,” Madi said.

Ava gave a watery smile, resting her head on Madi’s shoulder until the dogs yelped at the door to be let in for their breakfast.

Madi knew their relationship wouldn’t heal overnight, but she still felt as if a huge deadweight had been lifted away from her heart.

She had her sister back. Together, the two of them had endured things that would have broken others. Despite it all, they had emerged stronger than ever.

Ava had suffered a terrible loss but Madi knew she would get through it. She had Cullen and Leona and Madi to help her.

After Ava and Cullen left, Madi was sorely tempted to climb back into the guest room bed in the quiet house, cuddle Mo and Mabel against her, and sleep the rest of the day away.

Unfortunately, the shelter animals needed care, regardless of her shortsighted decision to read all night long. She couldn’t take the day off simply because she felt like it.

She showered again and dressed in her usual uniform of jeans and a T-shirt with the animal-rescue logo on it, put on her leg brace, then her boots and headed out to the barn. While other volunteers were scheduled to feed the animals, Madi had planned to clean out a couple of the stalls today. Not the most enjoyable of activities, but at least the exercise would keep her awake.

Maybe.

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