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I laugh.

And in a hidden house surrounded by desert, at almost four in the morning, six people stand around a kitchen waiting for pastries to cool.

Mae would have loved this.

Addy would have talked until sunrise.

And for the first time in a very long time, I don't feel like I have to stay awake because something terrible might happen.

I'm awake because something good already did.

I found them.

13

HAYLEY

By five in the morning, the kitchen is quiet again.

Arthur ate four pastries.

He claims he only ate three.

Sage counted.

After eighteen years with Mae and Addy, she apparently knows how to keep track of baked goods without looking.

Taylor and Will returned to the security room. Arthur took over the first watch, carrying a blueberry turnover with him despite Sage warning him that eating near the equipment would get him banned from the kitchen.

Sean walked Sage back to her room.

I stay behind to clean.

There isn’t much to do. Four former Delta Special Forces soldiers are surprisingly good at washing dishes when pastries are involved.

I wipe flour from the counter.

Sage’s flour.

She stood here less than an hour ago telling us about Mae and Addy.

About the letters.

About the life I missed.

I thought hearing those stories would destroy me.

Instead, they gave me something I haven’t had in eighteen years.

Peace.

Not complete peace.

Maybe I will never have that.

But I know Sage was loved.

Mae didn’t take my daughter and hand her to strangers. She raised her. Protected her. Gave her birthday cakes and Christmas mornings.