world on top of her…
“Sonia.”
She smiled, recognizing her husband’s voice. She turned and was surprised to see a young pretty woman with him.
“Maya.”
The girl nodded, looked at Dean with wide eyes. “Andres?” she asked.
“He’s out back,” Sonia said.
Dean walked Maya outside and Sonia watched from the window again. When Andres saw his sister, love and relief crossed his face. He ran to her and hugged her tightly. Tears streamed down their faces, and Sonia’s own tears flowed as well.
She heard Dean return to the kitchen and turned and embraced him. “You found her.”
“I didn’t want to get your hopes up again,” he said. Ever since they’d cracked Jones’s code a week after the mine incident, they’d thought they’d found Maya twice. Each time they’d been mistaken, though they’d rescued several underage prostitutes in the process.
“How is she?”
“She’s okay.” He wiped away her tears. “She’s strong, like you. She’ll need help, but she’ll make it. Because of family.” They looked out the window as Andres introduced his sister to Owen and Marianne. “I told your parents yesterday morning. They want Maya, too.”
“I’m going to cry all over again.” She took a deep breath. “That was a wonderful surprise. You are incredible.”
“Just call me Mr. Incredible.”
She laughed and kissed him, savoring his taste. “I can hardly wait until tonight, and you’d better be Mr. Incredible.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Tonight? What’s tonight?” He smiled and kissed her. “I have one more surprise.”
“I don’t think I can handle any more excitement.”
“Just this one.”
“All right. One more.” She grinned as she followed him out the side door. They walked down the street. It was the most beautiful Fourth of July-hot, blue, and free. She was free, and she would never forget anything-the good and the bad-that had brought her to this place, these people, this peace.
“Where are we going?” she asked when they turned the corner.
He didn’t answer her, but pulled her along. He was grinning and practically bouncing on the balls of his feet- very unlike the serious Dean Hooper she knew.
“Dean, what’s going on?”
“Be patient.”
“I’m not a patient person.”
“Fifty feet.”
“What?”
He stopped in front of a two-story Mission-style house with a wide porch and flowers everywhere. It fronted the quiet side of South Land Park, two blocks from her parents’ house.
There was a real estate sign in the front yard. Underneath it was a sign that said sold.
Her heart thudded. “What’s this?”
“Our home.”
