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I smiled through my tears as she stepped away from him.

Sadie’s happiness lingered for another moment, then her posture went rigid.

“What?” Theo asked, his arms wrapped around the baby.

Her eyes swept the room, her smile fading. “Tim and Varesh,” she said. “Where are they?”

Thirty-Four

luke

Someone had removed Tim’s jacket and changed him into a clean shirt, propping him against a couple of pale blue pillows. Blankets had been tucked around him, and the curtains were open, giving him a direct view into the backyard.

His breathing sounded different now, slower and heavier, each inhale taking a conscious effort.

Varesh sat on a wooden chair beside the bed, keeping hold of his hand. “You’ve done the hard part now,” he said. “No more walking.”

Tim closed his eyes for a beat, then swallowed and winced. “If you think that’s the hard part…” He paused and dragged in air. “I’ve got bad news for you… my love.”

Varesh’s jaw clenched, his eyes glistening behind his glasses.

Weak sunlight seeped through the window, and mist hovered over the paddocks, softening the landscape until the fence and olive trees had almost disappeared.

“I’ll leave you with your mate.” Dave held his arms out for the baby, exchanging a brief look with Theo as he handed her over.

The sheath at Dave’s belt hung empty now, his knife resting on a book someone had left on the bedside table. He squeezed Theo’s shoulder and slipped out into the hallway with the little girl.

Theo stood beside me, with Ava and Sadie in front of us. Sadie perched sideways on the mattress, with Tim’s other hand clasped in both of hers.

“I only went a couple of days without seeing you,” she said, her voice thick with tears, “and I already missed you.”

Ava’s shoulders shuddered in a silent sob, and I wrapped my arms around her from behind, kissing the top of her head.

Tim gave Sadie a tired smile. “I hope you appreciate… the irony.”

“In what?” she asked.

“The last thing I said to you… was please don’t die.”

Varesh’s chin wobbled, and he looked away.

“You said you’d get my sister here, too. You, Varesh, and Luke.” Sadie glanced back at me, her eyes glistening. “I’m so, so grateful.”

“She’s...” Tim paused, his breath catching. “She’s just like you.” His eyes found Ava, and the hint of a smile hovered. “In all the ways that matter.”

Ava sucked in a noisy breath and wiped her tears. I squeezed her tighter, holding myself together as much as her.

Tim settled into the pillows, his eyelids drooping before he forced them open again. “I’m tired.”

“You can rest now.” A tear slid down Varesh’s cheek, and he didn’t bother wiping it away. “I’ll be right here holding your hand.”

“I know.” He gave a slight smile. “You’ve always been there. You’re… my whole life.”

Sadie made a soft, tortured sound and rose from the edge of the bed, backing straight into Theo. He slipped his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder.

For a long moment, nobody said a word.

Only the sound of Tim’s laboured breaths filled the room, the space between each one lasting longer.