Page 16 of A New Era

“Not here, we’ll talk outside.”

As we didn’t order anything, there’s no need to settle a bill and we walk out into the sun and back to our brothers.

“Was her offer worth the ride out here?” Jay asks.

Just as I’m about to respond, the rumble of Victoria’s truck fills the air. She’s accompanied by the Dog City Chapter. My brows raise in curiosity.

“I knew we’d need to talk. I wasn’t going to let her and my son stay in the city without me.”

Of course, he wasn’t.

“Where’s Rudi?” I ask Angel.

“She’s got a double shift at the hospital. I’ll pick her up tomorrow morning.”

“So, what does she want?” JJ asks.

“Let’s get back to Willow’s Peak. I don’t like being out in the open like this.”

Something niggles in my gut. There’s something that’s screaming this meet was too easy… it went too smoothly.

Chapter Five

Holly

Rayna and I lie on the soft grass in our backyard, gazing up at the ever-shifting clouds above. The blades of grass brush against our legs.

“That one looks like you, Ray-Ray,” I say pointing to the cloud directly above us.

Her giggle lights my soul. “Nooooo, it looks like you.”

We take it in turns describing the clouds, making each other laugh, until we’re interrupted. “Babe, we’ve got guests.”

Sitting up, Victoria stands beside Leo on the back porch cradling River.

“Look, Ray-Ray, baby River is here.”

She’s on her feet before I am. She runs up to them and Victoria lowers herself to her knees so she can have a peek.

“Mom and Lana are in town. Do you mind if we hang here till they get back?” Victoria asks.

“Of course, like you even need to ask. We’ve been waiting for more cuddles with this little cutie,” I tell her, peeking into the swaddling.

There isn’t enough cooing in the world to convey how cute he is. “Here, he needs a cuddle with his Aunt Holly.”

Aunt?

A surge of overwhelming happiness washes over me. My smile transforms into an ear-to-ear grin. “Aunt Holly.” The term of endearment has my heart melting. In this moment, I’m acutely aware of my full acceptance into the family.

“Let’s go inside.”

I expect to find Luca, because where Victoria and now River are, he isn’t far away. But he’s nowhere to be seen.

“I’ll be over in the bar,” Leo tells me before kissing the side of my head and escaping.

“I’ll text Harper and Nina to come over.”

My home soon becomes filled with friends I call sisters and their children. There are no longer long silences in our home but I’m grateful for those moments because I needed them to heal. I wouldn’t say I’m fully healed but I’m at a point where I’m in the light and can see the end of the tunnel.

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