Page 156 of The Vanishing Place
Her sister’s brain would need a lot longer than two weeks to heal. The doctors said to take it slow, one day at a time. Tia was no longer living in survival mode, but as Blair explained, the shift from the survival part of her brain to the processing part of her brain was not a quick or easy one.
Effie sat next to her sister, taking her hand, and for a while they sat in comfortable silence.
“I’ve been readingHarry Potterwith Anya,” Tia said eventually. “The boy with white-blond hair…”
“Malfoy?”
“Yes.” Tia gave a half smile. “He reminds me of Adam.”
“Oh god, I didn’t even…” Effie squeezed Tia’s fingers. “I can get her another book. Something that—”
“No, no.” Tia patted Effie’s hand. “It’s nice. I enjoy reading it with her. I can feel her warming to me again.”
“Anya loves you, Tia.”
“I know she does, deep down.” Tia smiled softly. “But she’s still clouded by what Adam taught her.”
Effie looked at the pain and fear visible on her sister’s face. The trauma was etched into her skin, no matter how often she smiled.
“Sometimes,” said Tia, “I think that maybe I deserve it. That I should have done more for her. That there was—”
“Stop, Tia. Stop.”
She smiled again and leaned into Effie. And for a moment, they stayed like that. Two children who’d run together through the trees and washed their hair in the river. Who’d lost each other for so long.
“So,” Tia said, “are you going to tell me what that poor piece of paper ever did to you?”
Effie glanced down at the letter crumpled in her hand. She turned to Tia as the tears fell. “It’s Dad. He—”
“Dad?” Tia frowned.
“He’s alive, Tia. Dad’s alive.”
Tia’s body stilled—as if she’d stopped breathing. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely a whisper.
“Dad’s not dead?”
“No.” Effie dabbed at her eyes. “Dad’s not dead.”
Tia pressed a hand to her chest, her words spoken between shallow breaths. “He can meet his granddaughter. Dad can meet Anya.”
“Yes.” Effie couldn’t keep her eyes dry. “When you’re ready, he can meet his granddaughter.”
“Effie…” Tears stole her sister’s words.
“I know.” Effie pulled her into a hug. “I know.”
New Zealand
Lewis moved closeron the sofa, his fingers lifting her top, then he touched her face. Effie leaned into him, her eyes and heart open, and brushed her lips against his. The kiss spread through her body, and she shivered.
“You okay?” Lewis pulled back, their eyes locked.
“Yes.”
He held her there, their bodies breathing in time, as June walked through the living room door.
“Right, you two lovebirds”—she waved her arms—“enough of that.”
