“Let’s get some rest,” Finn said. “Then see if we can make it home in time for Christmas.”
Epilogue
THE SKY WAS gray and cloudy, as it always was, but occasionally a feeble ray of the setting sun broke through the thick veil to touch the neat rows of houses. The recent snowfall had painted a deceptively peaceful picture of a wintry village, piling prettily on the rooftops and temporarily hiding the signs of corrosion.
Finn stepped out on the back porch and closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in deeply. Perhaps it was his imagination running away with him, but the air had a different quality here than it did in the city. It was crisper, cleaner. Greener, somehow, though most of the trees that decorated the lanes stood bare, and the once-immaculate lawns were long gone, along with the rest of the vegetation.
Despite the relative calm of the deserted suburbs, their lives in the past year hadn’t been easy. It was an ongoing struggle, making their new house livable for three people. They had to work extra hard at keeping themselves warm and fed and healthy, but there was a sense of freedom Finn had never experienced before. He could share both the burden and the joy, be unabashedly happy without constantly looking over his shoulder or worrying about what the next day would bring.
And who knew? Perhaps one day, the skies would finally clear, the clouds dissolving into the spectacular blue. That day might not be that far away if the subtle clues in the weather were anything to go by. The storms were becoming a bit less abrupt and less violent; the snow and the rain tasted a bit cleaner. The sky was not as dark, and sometimes, they could glimpse a fleeting ray of sun shining between the heavy clouds. Perhaps a day would come for the remnants of civilization to pick themselves up, dust off the ashes, and begin anew with that entirely human stubbornness. And if they’d learned anything at all, that time, they’d do it better.
Finn picked his way into the backyard where Spencer was chopping wood and stopped. Spencer had taken off his coat and was working in his jeans and flannel shirt, and Finn paused to admire the fluid grace with which he moved despite his size.
Spencer raised his head and smiled when he saw Finn. He put down his ax and leaned in for a quick kiss as Finn came up to him. His lips were cold and chapped, but his cheeks were flushed from the exertion.
“The food’s almost ready,” Finn said. “Come inside.”
“I’d ask what’s for dinner, had I not been the one to catch it,” Spencer teased as he grabbed his coat.
“Well, you do have to practice hunting before we make that trip to the lake cabin in the summer. There won’t be anything else to eat in the wilderness—and there won’t be escaping my cooking,” Finn said with a wry grin.
“I like your cooking.” Spencer made a decent attempt at sincerity.
“That’s grossly untrue. But I think I got better this time. It’s barely burned at all.”
Dusk was settling rapidly around them, enveloping the yard in soft darkness and piercing cold. Finn shivered, and Spencer put an arm around his shoulders, keeping their bodies familiarly close.
They crossed the few yards of frozen ground, heading back to the house, but Spencer stopped just as they were about to climb the steps to the porch.
“Look.” He pointed to the sky. A single star was shining through a rip in the clouds, like a tiny precious jewel pinned on a tattered rag. It was visible only for a moment before disappearing behind the ashen veil, but its distant light lingered in Finn’s mind, reminding him of the flicker of a candle that welcomed them home.
“So beautiful,” Finn whispered, a touch wistfully, wishing he could see more.
“Yes, it is.” But Spencer wasn’t looking at the sky. Their eyes locked, and this time, it was Finn’s turn to smile.
About the Author
A voracious reader from the age of five, Isabelle Adler has always dreamed of one day putting her own stories into writing. She loves traveling, art, and science, and finds inspiration in all of these. Her favorite genres include sci-fi, fantasy, and historical adventure. She also firmly believes in the unlimited powers of imagination and caffeine.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Isabelle_Adler
Website: www.isabelleadler.com
Other books by this author
Adrift (Staying Afloat, book 1)
The Castaway Prince (The Castaway Prince, book 1)
A Touch of Magic (Fae-Touched, book 1)
Coming Soon by Isabelle Adler
Ashore
Staying Afloat, Book Two
You can only put the past away for so long.
This had never been truer for the crew of Matt’s ship, the Lady Lisa. Even as their engine suffers a critical malfunction and Matt scrambles to find ways to fund the costly repairs, Val, the ship’s reticent engineer, unexpectedly comes face-to-face with a deadly ghost from his past. Now it’s up to Matt, Ryce, and Tony to rescue him, even if it means breaking the law and striking an uneasy bargain with a local black-market kingpin—but what if this time their best efforts simply aren’t good enough?
And it might be that Val isn’t the only crew member Matt risks losing when his budding relationship with Ryce unexpectedly runs aground. With their love and commitment put to the test, Matt and Ryce must rally to save their friend and to keep their ship afloat, but in a race so desperate there might not be any real winners.
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