And my heart stops.
It’s stupid. I know it is. I haven’t seen my sister in years. I gave up hope that she was alive long ago. But my body reacts before logic can catch up. My feet halt and my breath hitches as the world narrows into that single familiar shade of red.
“Abigail?” Beau asks, already turning toward me, brows pinched. “What’s wrong?”
I don’t answer.
I just take off.
I break into a run before I think better of it, rounding the corner and heading straight for the alley where the flash of color vanished. My pulse in my throat, my hands cold, my mind screaming that this is impossible and undeniable all at once.
It can’t be her. There’s no way. But what if—
“Abigail!” Beau’s voice cracks behind me, panic bleeding through the shout. “Stop! Wait!”
I don’t stop until I’m standing in the mouth of the alley. My eyes scan every inch of it like I might manifest her from thin air if I look hard enough.
But there’s nothing.
Just brick walls. A dumpster. And a puddle reflecting the winter sky above.
No red hair. No familiar smile. No ghost from my past stepping back into my life where I so desperately need her.
The realization hits hard enough that my knees wobble. Beau reaches me seconds later. Hands gentle but firm as he grabs my arms, turning me toward him. “Hey. Hey, talk to me. What happened?”
I swallow hard. “I thought… I thought I saw her.”
His expression shifts instantly. No confusion. No judgement. Just concern. “Your sister?” I must look at him in confusion because he clarifies, “Lincoln told us about her.”
I nod, eyes stinging. “I was sure of it. I know how insane that sounds. But I just—I thought—It really looked like her, Beau.” My voice cracks as I force the words out.
A tear finally falls down my cheeks, and Beau wraps me in his arms. He cradles my head against his chest with one hand and runs his hand along my spine with the other. “Shhhhh. It’s okay. It’s not insane, Abbie.”
“I saw red hair,” I whisper against his warm chest. “It was just for a second. And my brain—” I cut myself off. “I was just so sure.”
Beau lifts my face and holds it in both his hands, thumbs warm against my damp cheeks. “Abigail,” he says softly, forcing my gaze to his. “You’re okay. You’re here. You’re safe.”
My breathing starts to slow, the tempo calm and even, thanks to the steadiness of his voice.
“She’s been gone for years,” I murmur. “There’s no way it was her. Right?”
I close my eyes, leaning into his touch just for a second. Letting myself feel it. The reassurance. The care. And when I open them again, the alley looks as it should. Empty. Harmless. Void of Katerina.
Beau wipes away a tear as it falls. “You wanna stay here for a minute?” he asks. “Or we can head back. Whatever you need.”
I take a steadying breath and nod. “Yeah. Maybe… maybe let’s just walk. Give me time to clear my head.”
He smiles gently and plants a feather-light kiss on my forehead and whispers, “I’m right here, Abs.” His lips brush against my skin with every syllable. “I’m real. And I’m right here.”
Chapter thirty-six
Abigail
Istandonthefrontsteps of the main house with two grocery bags full of ingredients from my cupboards cutting into my fingers, the porch light casting a soft glow over the worn wood dusted with snow beneath my feet.
This is stupid.
I should just go home.
