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Aria giggles and pops one into her mouth

We sit for a while and just talk I end up taking Aria to the living room to watch one of Teresa’s andMonize the limitations on e can say with Aria in the room When I tell them what Theo did, which resulted in my coma, Mom completely breaks down I i Dad and herself It may have been their decision to pushmarried, but what Theo did was in no way their fault Then the guilt cah for me I took that away too The last they knew, Luca and I were leaving town They had no reason to search the local hospitals

I can see the anger on Dad’s face groith each new revelation of Theo’s deception I’m worried he’ll place some of the blame at Luca’s feet since he’s his brother, so I’m shocked when he thanks Luca

“You saved our girl and brought her back to us,” he says gruffly

Luca looks Dad straight in the eye and says with conviction, “I’ll always save her, sir I love her with every single part of me”

The last of Dad’s reservations toward Luca break away I see it when he reaches across the table and offers his hand to Luca again, and it’s reaffirmed when Dad mutters, “Welcome to the family”

I turn into a blubberingDad and whisper my thanks in his ear His own eyes are teary when I pull back

I’o check on Aria when I hear a door slam My heart races because I know it could only be one person

“Mom, Dad!” I close my eyes when I hear her irl in the living roo TV?”

My back is facing the doorway, but I know she’s now in the room I open my eyes and they meet Luca’s He kno much I’ve missed my sister

I take a deep breath, and with et up and turn around

She’s absolutely beautiful and looks just like e The last tie She’s fourteen now, alrooman

Her eyes meet mine and confusion pulls down her brows It doesn’t take her long to recognize me

“Jules?” she whispers “Is that really you?”

I nod, because that’s all I can do My ht to formulate any words