Mom approached while Nika and I were watching our extended family. She hugged Nika, then rubbed my shoulder. “You guys ready? Did you get everything that you want to take to college with you? God…I can’t believe you’re off to college already. I swear, just yesterday you were in diapers.”
Mom’s comment made me groan. She’d been dwelling on our childhood a lot lately, it was kind of driving me crazy. What was a drop in the bucket for her was forever for me. I’d been waiting for this moment for far too long. As always, Nika stepped in and prevented me from sticking my foot in my mouth. “Yep! We’re all packed. I can’t wait to see Ashley and Grandma Linda at the new ranch.”
Instead of seeing us off at the old ranch, Grandma Linda, Ashley, and Christian were greeting us at the new place. Grandma Linda was going to stay for good, while Ash would leave with her husband after a few weeks. I think Mom planned on pushing the vampire-transfusion remedy on Grandma Linda as soon as she could. I hoped she did, and I hoped Grandma said yes. Now that permanently dying was avoidable, I wanted everyone in my family to do it. Even if I had to be the blood bank for them. I’d have a pint drained from me every day if it meant my family could live forever.
Before I could remind Mom that I wasn’t a baby anymore, Dad came up to our group. “We’re all set. You guys have your phones on you? Mom and I will be right behind you, but better safe than sorry.”
Patting my pocket, I nodded. “Yeah, we’re all set, Dad.” Maybe I’d have to tell both parents I was no longer an infant.
Wrapping his arms around Mom, Dad nodded. “Good. We should head out then. Get as much road behind us as we can before the purebloods need to stop.” He cringed, then looked down at Mom. “Great-Gran is not excited about sleeping in the ground, but there’s not much we can do about it on the road. Kind of hard to make a place light-proof on short notice. Even for Gabriel. And he’s been researching it for weeks.”
Dad smiled and Mom laughed. Now that things had settled down, Halina and Gabriel were just like they used to be. No tension, no drama, just a lot of awkward sexual innuendo that was completely inappropriate for family members to hear. They kind of reminded me of Starla and Jacen, although…Starla and Jacen weren’t quite the same as they used to be. They were more…subdued now. Deeper. More appreciative of life, and everything they’d been blessed with. After spending a few minutes with those two, I loved my life so much more, and it wasn’t because they were broken or anything. Quite the opposite. They were more…alive. They had a zest for love and life that was infectious and inspiring. It was a little difficult to imagine Starla as the ungrateful, annoying spoiled brat that she used to be.
They were in the backyard now, taking in the splendor of the ranch one last time. I kind of felt like joining them, but I knew it was time to leave. Looking over at Nika, I tilted my head toward the car. “Ready, sis?”
She smiled at Hunter, and I turned to watch Hunter nod in response to her unasked question. Looping her arm through mine, she nodded. “Ready. Let’s go start our new life.”
We shared a laugh as we started moving toward the car. Trey was already in the back of the wagon, thumping the seats to a drum solo only he could hear. Mom and Dad had walked over to the moving truck, to say goodbye to Jake, Simon, Rory, and Cleo. I waved at Simon as we walked by. My internal radar would always let me know where he was, so this wasn’t really goodbye for us, but it felt permanent as I got behind the wheel. Who knew when we’d be back here?
Nika slipped into the passenger’s seat while Hunter opened the back door to sit by Trey; Hunter immediately pulled Trey out of the car and motioned for Nika to join him in the back. She giggled as she zipped into the seat with him, and I rolled my eyes. This was going to be the longest road trip ever.
As I started the car, Starla and Jacen zipped into view. Jacen opened the door of the moving van for Starla, and she gave him a brief curtsy before she got inside. Halina hopped into Gabriel’s car with Imogen and Malachi. Grandpa Jack blurred to his truck—a sight that was still odd to see—and opened the door for Alanna. Ben and his family piled into Ben’s SUV, and once everyone was in a vehicle, the caravan began to move.
Dad honked a goodbye to the group of humans watching the nest of vampires leaving their home. As we passed through the massive gate bearing the Adams name, I lifted my eyes to the rearview mirror, so I could watch the outline of the roof against the dark sky. I watched the steeples and chimneys, statues and shrubs that I loved so much recede into nothingness, then I forcefully shifted my eyes back to the road, and the new possibilities it presented.
On the last stoplight that would lead us out of this town and into our new life, I pulled out my phone and texted Arianna. ‘On my way, babe. See you soon.’
Her response, as always, was instant. ‘I. Can’t. Wait!’
My smile was huge as the light illuminating the way turned an appealing shade of green. I couldn’t wait either.
S.C. Stephens is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who spends her every free moment creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance. In addition to writing, she enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading, listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and family. She and her two children reside in the Pacific Northwest.
You can learn more at:
AuthorSCStephens.com
Twitter @SC_Stephens_
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S. C. Stephens, Family Is Forever
(Series: Conversion # 6)
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