Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 130081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“No, no—you have to do what’s right for you,” his Mother-in-law sent firmly. “But this other Sonya—does she look like my baby?”
“Exactly like her,” Davrik assured her. “Right down to the golden flecks in her eyes. She’s not a copy of Sonya—she is Sonya—just from a different universe. She’s had to go through a lot that our Sonya didn’t have to because of the Scourge Invasion,” he went on. “It’s made her incredibly strong and resilient. But I know she still misses her mother,” he added.
“Bring her to meet me,” his Mother-in-law told him. “I want to see her. I promise I’ll treat her right.”
And then she had broken the mental connection. Davrik still wasn’t sure what she would think when she met the new Sonya, but he had faith that she would be kind and cordial, even if it turned out she couldn’t accept her in place of her lost daughter. Mother Maya was a wise and beautiful older woman—he respected her wisdom and grace.
So that was how they wound up walking up the path to the first Sonya’s mother’s house with the second Sonya feeling nervous and uncertain.
“You’ll be fine—she’ll love you,” Davrik reassured her again.
“I hope you’re right. I hope she doesn’t think I’m trying to take her daughter’s place.” Sonya tugged at her skirt again. “Oh my God—the house looks just the same!” she added, staring at the white house with green trim, which was located on the outskirts of Tampa’s urban sprawl. “Look—they even have a porch swing—just like my mom did in my universe!”
Just at that moment, the front door swung open and Mother Maya appeared, wearing a blue print floral dress and a tentative smile on her face.
“Sonya?” she asked and Davrik could hear the hope and uncertainty warring in her voice. Her faded brown eyes scanned Sonya up and down, as though looking for the daughter she’d lost.
“Mom? I mean, Mrs. Martin?” Sonya got out.
Something changed in the older woman’s face—it was like watching the sun break through the clouds, Davrik thought.
“Don’t you ‘Mrs. Martin’ me, young lady! Come here!” Mother Maya hurried out of the door and down the front steps with her arms held wide.
“Mom!” Sonya rushed into the waiting arms and both women started crying.
“You came back to me! My baby came back!” Mother Maya squeezed Sonya tight as tears poured from her eyes.
“I’m not really her—that is, I…I am her, but from…from another universe,” Sonya explained, through her own sobs.
“And in that universe, I’m the one who died—is that right?” Mother Maya pulled back and looked at her.
“My whole family died,” Sonya admitted in a low voice. “I…I miss them so much. I miss you…Mom.”
“Oh, child—I missed you too.” And then they were hugging and crying again. “You’re mine—my own baby. I don’t care what universe you came from!” Mother Maya declared. “You call me Mom and you come to see me every chance you get! Now, come in the house—I made your favorite.”
“Strawberry lemonade?” Sonya asked, pulling back from the hug and swiping at her streaming eyes.
“Of course! And peanut butter cookies to go with it.” Mother Maya looped an arm around her new daughter’s waist and urged her into the house. She threw a look over her shoulder at Davrik and nodded at him. “You come too—you brought my baby back to me. I knew there was a reason you’re my favorite Son-in-law.”
Davrik had to blink back tears of his own as he followed the woman he loved and her new mother into the neat little house. He had never felt so grateful to the Goddess before or more blessed.
The love of his life, the other half of his soul had been restored to him. And he never intended to let her go again.
THE END?
OF COURSE NOT!
You know there are always more Kindred books coming.