Ava walked up the stairs, jiggling the door handle. “It’s locked.”
As abandoned property, it would eventually be sold at auction, but these things took months so it wasn’t surprising it hadn’t happened yet.
“Do you want to go in?” Thorne asked. “To say goodbye?”
Ava bit her lip, pondering. They’d come here so she could see the farm one last time. So she could share it with her loved ones and truly close this chapter of her life.
“Yes…I do.”
“Will something happen to us if we break in?” Quinn asked. “Cas is strong enough to break down the door.”
Ava shook her head. “It doesn’t seem like there’s anyone around, so I doubt it. Go ahead, Cas.”
Casimir squared up, leaned back, and kicked the front door right next to the handle. It flew open with a bang, the deadbolt ripping from the frame, and splinters scattering.
“That was quite sexy, Cas,” Raine said. “You should do that more often.”
“Break into homes?” Casimir raised a brow at his friend.
“No…kick down doors. Perhaps that’s how you enter rooms from now on.”
“I’ll take that into consideration.”
Ava laughed and shook her head, walking inside and reaching for the light switch. Her grandfather had left her quite a bit of money, and all the bills were set on autopay…so maybe…
The foyer brightened. “Aha! The electricity is still on.”
“Elec…what?” Raine said.
“The human way of lighting our homes. I promise I’ll do my best to explain as much as I can when we get back. But if I have to explain every little thing now, we’ll be here forever.”
“I’ll save my questions then,” Raine said.
They walked down the hall, stopping when they reachedthe kitchen and living room. Everything looked the same. The tall picture windows framed by ivory floral curtains. The couches. The reading chair by the window.
“This is a beautiful home, Ava,” Jorrar said, speaking for the first time.
“Thank you.”
Luna jumped on the dining table, chirping happily, a sudden reminder of the night Ava and Eleanor found the book and stood over this table, trying to make sense of it. Ava gave Luna a scratch on the head.
Quinn strode around the kitchen, hands brushing the marble countertop of the large island. “This is amazing.”
Ava smiled.
“Well…” Thorne said. “Is there anything you need while we’re here? Anything you wish to bring back?”
Ava thought for a moment. There was nothing she truly needed. Except…
“Photos,” she said. “Pictures of mom.”
“Like paintings?” Raine asked.
“Not quite,” Ava said. “I’ll explain later. When we get home I can show them to all of you.”
Ava explained where the box was in the hall closet and Jorrar returned with it in hand. “Anything else?” he asked.
“One more thing.”
