They reached the front gate of the small kingdom, where Addah stood waiting, her arms crossed, looking every bit the formidable Master J.
"You took your time, Edward," Addah said, her voice a cool blade.
"Addah... where is she?" Edward's voice was raw, he didn't care about the Master J title or the secret networks he was a man on the edge.
"She is inside. But listen to me carefully," Addah stepped forward, her gaze shifting to the boys.
"Don't even think of taking my daughter away from me, I will not care even if you are are my son-in-law, and also she has been through a different kind of war. And there is someone else you need to meet, someone who has been keeping her heart beating all these years."
Ryan pushed past his father, his heart pounding against his ribs he pushed open the conservatory doors and stopped dead.
There, in the soft afternoon light, was his mother.
