Chapter 74

"Alora, put these in the shed," My dad hands me the ropes from Old Man T's deck.

As I hold the weathered ropes and watch my father finish tying down the boat with new ones, I feel...happy. Like the first sun ray that breaks through the clouds of a leftover hurricane. My life is moving forward from the bad and getting on with the new. The good.

Ariella bursts out laughing as our dad curse and bitches about Old Man T, "Some things don't change."

I smile at her, and she gives my shoulder a squeeze. She glances over at Mom, who is standing at the end of the dock. She has her arms crossed as she watches the sea churn and breathe around us.

She wraps her arm around me as I stand beside her, but doesn't take her eyes off the ocean, "You seem happier, baby."

I look down at her arm that rested against my hip. She has a golden bracelet, almost identical to mine.

"Nena?"

"Yeah...I am."

She pats my hip with a smile, "I miss her too. But...she's with us." I don't have time to question her before s