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He looked up, his hand still in front of his face. He peered at Becca, now visible to him and drew in a sharp breath. “I heard you inside my head and you’re wearing jeans.” He wiped his eyes.
Emma was a little surprised that she’d heard Becca at the same time. Sharing in group telepathic conversations wasn’t something that happened often in Five Bridges, perhaps another unexpected side effect of her relationship with Vaughn.
Becca smiled at her father. It helps when people see us if we look something like we did when we were alive.
“You’re so beautiful, sweetheart.” He took his wife’s hand, glancing at her. “Can you see our Becca?”
Samantha nodded, tears streaming down her face.
But, Dad, why did you do it? Mom, we never wanted this for you.
Samantha drew close to Davis, still holding his hand. “Please try to understand. We had to. But it wasn’t just your abduction that made up our minds. You know the family at the end of the street? Well, their oldest boy was given the vampire alter serum and now lives in Crescent. It’s an epidemic here in Phoenix and in about every major city throughout the country. It must be stopped. Don’t you see? We have to be part of the solution, especially since we’re each convinced that if we’d gotten involved sooner, we’d still have our family.”
Becca drew close to Davis first, and though a tangible physical embrace wasn’t possible, she slid her ghostly fingers down his face.
His brows rose and he gasped. “I could feel your touch.”
Becca nodded. Sorry I can’t do more or I’d hug you.
When she did the same for Samantha, more tears followed.
Now that the ice was broken, Emma suggested the girls and their parents move into the living room. They had a lot to discuss, and no doubt a long conversation would follow.
Emma left them alone and headed back out to the patio. She shared the details with Vaughn and Beth.
Both were just as surprised as Emma that anyone, no matter how motivated, would choose to become an alter species. While their curious attention became fixed on events in the living room, Emma watched Vaughn with his sister. Beth had been able to see the triplets for a while now and took a lot of enjoyment in their presence.
Beth sat close to him, holding his hand. She had circles beneath her eyes from both prolonged second-hand drug use as well as from years of starvation. She would regain her full health eventually, but it wouldn’t be a quick process.
When she released her brother’s hand and leaned her head against his shoulder, Vaughn slid his arm around her, holding her tight.
Beth sighed. “Look how happy the mom is. It may not be the same, but she has her daughters back.”
Vaughn nodded, his gaze also fixed to the odd family in the living room. He squeezed her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. His eyes misted over.
She knew how grateful he was to have Beth back.
Emma’s heart swelled as she watched him. She loved Vaughn with every altered fiber of her being. He’d become the sun, moon and stars to her, the spin of the planets, the breadth of the galaxy.
He took her to bed often and spent hours making love to her. She couldn’t believe he’d come into her life. She’d thought after Max’s death she’d be alone forever. Nothing about the corrupt nature of Five Bridges life had given her a reason to believe anything approaching a normal relationship could exist.
But here was Vaughn and their sharing of their alter powers and abilities had become a promise of good things to come.
He met her gaze, his lips curving softly. I love you, Emma. Even his voice had a deep tenor within her mind.
I love you, too. Thank you, Vaughn, thank you for changing everything.
~ ~ ~
Even after three weeks, Vaughn still couldn’t believe his good fortune. Together, he, Emma and Beth had defeated one of the most heinous monsters in Five Bridges, and they were all alive to tell about it.
Now he was here, held tight in the center of a family he’d never thought to have in Five Bridges. He had his sister back, and he loved Emma with all his heart.
Emma said he’d changed everything for her, but she’d done the same for him.
His gaze shifted to the triplets in the living room. The girls were lively now and fully engaged with their parents.
They, too, were a family.
