Page 55 of 15 Summers Later

“I have to tell you this while you’re here.Ghost Lakeis the most extraordinary, emotional book I’ve read in a long time. Maybe ever. While it’s certainly true I have a very personal connection that might be skewing my perspective, thousands of other people who don’t have that same personal connection have been forever touched by your words and your story. You should lean into that. Embrace it. Your words have power, Ava. You should never doubt that.”

Ava clasped Tilly’s hand in hers as the genuine praise seemed to seep through all her self-doubt to reach her heart.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“And that girl who had the courage to do what you did back then is strong enough to face anything,” Tilly went on. “Even your own unexpected success.”

Tilly smiled warmly at her and cleared her throat, withdrawing her hand. “I need to take these desserts out since it’s been all of ten minutes since people have eaten something.”

She picked up the brownie tray and headed out the door without giving Ava a chance to respond.

Alone in the lovely kitchen once more, Ava pressed a hand to her abdomen. When she was sixteen, she’d found enough strength to escape with her sister into the wilderness, even knowing they would likely be caught and punished severely for their disobedience.

Together, they had faced hunger, thirst, bug bites, cougar stalkings, even an attack by an unsuspecting porcupine.

If she was indeed pregnant, she would figure out a way to fix her marriage, no matter how hard it might prove to be.

16

Our journey is far from over, but with each word written and every step taken, we reclaim a piece of ourselves and redefine what it means to be survivors of a twisted reality.

—Ghost Lakeby Ava Howell Brooks

Madison

“Admit it. We won fair and square. How does it feel to be whupped by a child, a septuagenarian and a woman with a bum leg?”

Luke grinned down at Madi. “Well, for one thing, one of my teammates walked out in the middle of the cornhole match to have an ice pop. For another, you cheated before my last throw when you faked that stumble and distracted me.”

She laughed. “I wasn’t faking. I really did stumble. Okay, maybe I exaggerated. It’s not my fault you’re a sucker for a wounded bird.”

“Hey, I think I’m going to stay here tonight.”

Madi had been so busy gloating, she hadn’t noticed Nicole join them until she spoke.

“Why? Is something wrong?” Madi asked.

“Not at all. I’m off work tomorrow and so is Austin, coincidentally. We talked about taking a couple of the horses on a trail ride in the mountains early in the morning. Since the horses are here, it makes sense to stay so I don’t have to drive over so early.”

“Oh right.” Except how was Madi supposed to get home, since she and Sierra had ridden over with Nicole?

As usual, her best friend seemed to read her mind. “I came over to bring you my car keys. Go ahead and take my car back to the house. I can have Austin drop me back home tomorrow after our ride.”

“I don’t want to take your car. I can see if Grandma minds going out of her way to take me home.”

The idea of being trapped inside Leona’s SUV with Ava appealed to her about as much as shaving her eyebrows, but she didn’t mention that small detail.

“No need,” Luke said quickly. “I can give you a ride. I wanted to swing by the sanctuary anyway tonight to check on Barnabas and see how his leg is healing. I’ve been meaning to head over there all day and haven’t had a chance.”

“He is as ornery as ever but you could certainly come check it out for yourself. What about Sierra, though?”

He shrugged. “She and Mom were talking about watching a movie. I’m sure I’ll be back before they’re done.”

“You’re not up for movie night?”

“Not this one. It’s a tearjerker romance where somebody dies at the end. Not my favorite trope.”

Her emotions softened. Of course it wouldn’t be, since his own wife had died only four years earlier.

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