JC POV
Unable to sleep, I decided to step outside and sit by the fire. The sky was darker than usual, a deep, endless void, with stars scattered like tiny lights dangling from the heavens, their brilliance soft but mesmerizing.
As I stared into the flames, I couldn't help but think about the plan—about bringing Haylie back.
The thought consumed me, but doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind. What if she didn't want to return? I had seen her step through that portal, with her parent and what to look like.
They were with her in the spirit world, along with her aunt and who knows who else. Surrounded by the family she had lost, what reason would she have to come back here?
And then there was Liam. He'd become a father now. From what I'd heard, he was with my niece at the hospital. The thought made me sigh heavily. My mind wandered, filled with fears I couldn't quite shake.
