Page 194 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

Sabre wondered what that word meant to Bay anymore.

Two minutes later, the hearing ended. People gathered files and began moving toward the next matter on calendar.

Bay stayed seated. Sabre gathered her papers.

“Is Hannah okay?”

“Better than she’s been in a long time.”

~~~

Sabre picked up Bay at juvenile hall, and they drove to Polinsky. Bay hadn't said much since leaving court, but that wasn’t unusual. Kids processed things differently. Some cried. Some talked nonstop. Some stared out windows and held everything inside until they felt safe enough not to. Bay stared out the passenger-side window.

Traffic crawled along the 163 while afternoon sunlight flashed across her face through passing trees and overpasses.

At Polinsky, they walked inside through the secure doors, then Sabre signed paperwork while Bay shifted nervously from foot to foot.

The staff member smiled gently. “We have someone waiting in visitation.”

Bay looked at Sabre. “Now?”

Sabre nodded. “Now.”

Sabre led Bay to one of the family rooms and opened the door.

Hannah sat on the couch near the window with her legs tucked underneath her. She looked up and stopped breathing for a second.

Bay froze in the doorway. Neither moved nor spoke. For several long seconds, the room simply held both of them.

Bay's eyes filled first, like she'd been trying hard not to let them.

Hannah grinned and stood. “Bay!”

Then Hannah crossed the room fast. Bay met her halfway. Then they were holding onto each other so tightly Sabre wondered if they planned to let go.

Bay buried her face against Hannah's shoulder. “You came back. Why?”

“I had to help you the way you always help me. I tried to find you.”

They talked over one another through tears and uneven breaths.

Bay pulled back enough to look at her sister, then stared at her for a second. Then at the exact same time, they both started laughing.

Then Bay said, “I’m never leaving you again.”

Sabre took a deep breath, because she knew she still had an uphill battle to keep the girls together.

Epilogue

Two weeks later

San Diego International Airport buzzed with the usual chaos of rolling luggage, delayed flights, and exhausted travelers pretending not to be irritated with one another.

Sabre stood near the security entrance beside JP while Bay and Hannah sat together several feet away with Aunt Rochelle. Neither girl looked comfortable yet. That was okay. Comfort would take time. But they sat shoulder to shoulder, quietly talking over a shared pair of earbuds while August handled boarding passes nearby with his wife, Karen.

For a moment, they looked like two teenagers who had lived a normal life. The important thing was that they were together.

August returned and asked, “Are you ready?”