Page 169 of The Obvious Check

“Really?” Adley's eyes light up with hope.

“Really,” I promise. “We're not giving up on her. Forever and always,” I add, using the words that have become our family motto.

“Forever and always,” she repeats, and the smile that spreads across her face is pure sunshine.

A year and a half ago, I thought I'd lost Adley forever. I thought I'd never have a real family, or that I ever deserved one.

Now I'm sitting in our home, watching my sister fall in love with hockey and the new life she’s going to lead.

It's everything I never dared to dream of and more than I ever thought I deserved, but we earned it. We fought for it. We built it from nothing but hope, stubbornness, and love.

And the best part… it's just the beginning.

THE END

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