I lowered my eyes to the floor at hearing our mother’s name. Of course Liv would name her Rose. We’d chatted about it once while lying under the stars on one of those long nights out in the desert, camping as we roamed across the country homeless. She’d said that much.
“Audrey, I don’t want anyone else to have her. I only trust you and Saul. I can’t be a mother. You know me…I can barely take care of myself.”
“Where did you go?”
“Excuse me?”
My patience was running thin.
“All these months. Where did you go when you left us behind?”
Liv sat back into the chair, her shoulders pushed back. “I went to rehab. I paid in cash from the advance Noble Records gave us and asked to be placed anonymously. I wanted to be clean for Rose. Completely. I’d been cutting back a lot, but I couldn’t fully shake it all off…the drugs…the alcohol. I let it run my life and I had to stop. When Lonzo said he knew everything and to run as fast as I could to avoid Jonas and Emilio at all costs, I knew I had to hide Rose. I had to. I had to make sure there were no more connections to Jonas or Emilio with her. They can never know about her. Plus, I had to do this alone. You’ve been there for me all my life, saving me. I had to save myself for once.”
Her words stung and melted my heart all at the same time. Her answer gave me the resolution I needed to this months’ long ache I’d been feeling. That much she’d given me.
I got to my feet and walked over to the baby. Her round face was a soft rosy pink surrounded by soft, short curls of light brown hair. She was beautiful and more precious to me in that moment than anything had been before. She reminded me of Liv when she was a baby with her soft skin and pouty lips. I wanted to pick up Rose and hold her to my chest that instant. I wanted to keep her safe, as safe as I’d wanted to keep Liv all these years.
“Can I hold her?”
Liv shot to her feet and stood by me, beaming.
“Of course.”
I reached down and undid her restraints. She made a face as I threaded her arms through them and slipped my hands under her warm body. Lifting her up, she stretched and furrowed her brows before she relaxed back into a nap in the crook of my arm.
Walking back to the sofa where Saul waited, I let my eyes roam over her tiny figure. Her fingers were miniature with the tiniest of nails formed on their tips. She smelled like a baby; baby lotion scented with a slight undertone of sour milk.
“She’s perfect.”
Saul reached out and touched her scalp softly. He ran his fingers over her fine hair, ears, and then around her chubby face before finding her fingers. She curled her little hand around one of his fingers and pressed tightly, as if to never let go.
“She likes you guys!” Liv sat back on the arm chair and observed us with an enthusiasm I’d not seen on her in a very long time. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but I figured maybe you might let me stay here with you so we can all get to know each other again. Especially…you know…Rose and you guys.”
The little bundle in my arms made my heart flutter in my chest again, and I laughed when Rose began hiccupping in my arms. She felt alive, thrumming with more life than most people walking like zombies in the light of day. I wanted to feel her close to me forever. Like this. It was a feeling I’d been missing for the longest time, and I knew the coming days, months, and years would be more than amazing because of her.
I glanced back up to my sister and grinned.
“Of course you can stay. That was never a question that needed an answer. You know that.”
Liv nodded and settled back, looking a bit tired but relaxed, like a load had been lifted from her shoulders. I’d never seen her so peaceful like that before. It warmed my soul and brought me the same relief.
“Love you, Sis. Never forget,” I whispered across to the room to her.
“Love you, too. And I won’t ever forget.”
The End.
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to my readers. You rock my world! Thank you for everything!
I want to thank Kendra Gaither, Michael K. Rose, Ella James, J.A. Huss, Jonas Saul and J.T. Lewis. Your insight gives me the drive to keep on in this chaotic world! Thank you for being amazing!
About the Author
Alexia currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada–Sin City! She loves to spend every free moment writing or playing with her four rambunctious kids. Writing has always been her dream, and she has been writing ever since she can remember. She loves writing paranormal fantasy and poetry and devours books daily. Alexia also enjoys watching movies, dancing, singing loudly in the car and eating Italian food.
Connect with Alexia Purdy:
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Also by Alexia Purdy
Reign of Blood Series:
Reign of Blood
Disarming (Reign of Blood #2)
Elijah (The Miel Chronicles):
A Reign of Blood Companion Story
Amplified (Reign of Blood #3)
A Dark Faerie Tale Series:
Evangeline (A Dark Faerie Tale #0.5)
Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale #1)
Ever Fire (A Dark Faerie Tale #2)
Ever Winter (A Dark Faerie Tale #3)
The Cursed (A Dark Faerie Tale #3.5)
Ever Wrath (A Dark Faerie Tale #4)
Elemental Fire Series:
History of Fire (Elemental Fire #1)
Other Stories:
The Fall of Sky
Keep Breathing
Breathe Me
Short Stories:
The Faery Hunt
Never Say Such Things
Spinning Scars
Poetic Collections:
Whispers of Dreams
Five Fathoms
Anthologies:
Beyond the Never
Soul Games
Faery Worlds
Faery Realms
Lacing Shadows
Crimson Dreams: A Vampire Anthology
The XOXO Collection
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