Alex turned, releasing Sam’s hand immediately, and then broke into a sprint. Everything turned to a blur to her. The posters on the wall, the notices tacked to the corkboard. Any of the other people watching or dealing with their own issues.

All of them melted away as she ran to them.

Nattie and Joel.

Her brother and sister’s initial confusion dissolved and their bright, white smiles lured Alex towards them, and they quickly bounded towards her, the three of them colliding together, which drew a gasp from Alex. To feel her hands around them, to smell their hair. She was weeping uncontrollably, squeezing them as tight as she could. Nattie complained, trying to maintain her teenage cool, but the reunion clearly meant the same to her. Joel however, nuzzled his head into Alex’s side, refusing to let her go.

Alex had no idea where they’d been or what they’d been through since she’d been gone.

They would have no idea of the road she’d taken to return.

But now she had them, and as she squeezed them as tightly as possible, she knew she’d walk through hell to stay by their side.

As the three siblings held each other, Alan approached Sam with a warm smile on his face.

‘Worth it?’ Alan asked.

‘She is.’ Sam nodded. ‘If you’re thinking of sticking around, remember that.’

‘I will. She’s an incredible woman.’ Alan gently rested his hand on Sam’s shoulder. ‘I’ve got the ball rolling for her to adopt them. I’ve called in a few favours, but it should take a week or so.’

‘Thanks, Joe.’ Sam extended his hand. ‘For everything.’

‘You not sticking around?’

Sam shook his head. He’d long since cried out the majority of his emotions when Jamie had died, but Alan thought he could see Sam holding back a tear or two.

‘It’s time for me to go home, I think. Face whatever’s waiting for me.’

Alan took Sam’s hand and shook it firmly. His eyes lit up with excitement.

‘I imagine it will be an obituary.’ Alan chuckled. ‘I had Wyatt bring me a DNA sample from Sykes. Considering the job, they did on that piece of shit, I’d imagine the only identifier they would leave would be a DNA check. Wyatt took the swab. I called in the last of my favours and wouldn’t you know it, it looks like Sam Pope perished in a fire in South Carolina.’

Sam’s mouth hung open in shock. Alan laughed, and Sam realised he was still shaking the man’s hand.

‘You did that?’ Sam scoffed. ‘Why?’