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“Hey, munchkin Come help Ga a bit old”

She holds her hand out for Aria to take After stuffing the last bite of her biscuit in her rabs Mom’s hand, hops down from the chair, and they both walk out the back door to the fenced-in backyard

The ?”

I don’t look at hiht lips and a frown

“She’s awake,” I say bluntly

He juh and jostling the dishes “What?” he shouts

“Who’s awake?” Dad asks, sounding confused and co to his feet slower than Theo

“Keep your voice down,” I growl at Theo

“She can’t be awake” His voice is quieter, but no less astonished

“Will so on?”

Dad’s irritated tone hasat him He’s tall, not skinny, but not bulky either In his late fifties, half his body covered in tattoos, full beard andAs kids, he was our hero, the smartest man we knew, and scary as hell when he was riled up Not that he ever lifted a hand to us, but he was strict, de the respect that was due to hi up with any bullshit from us kids

I respect the hell out of hihter-in-law they’ve missed for seven years

I bring my eyes back to Theo “Either you tell him, or I will”

His eyes narrow into slits, and for ato push , carefree one of the family, but he’s also a little shit at times and can be just as stubborn as Ella

Indignation darkens his eyes before he turns to Dad “I’m married” Dad sucks in a sharp breath, but before he can say anything, Theo continues “I oing to leave town because of our different backgrounds Before we could, she was attacked She’s been in a coma ever since”