Chapter Sixty-Three

We had left Aurora two days later and driven back to Hartwell. We arrived late at night but Mary-Joe had cooked for us and she and Simon had waited up. Their were hugs and some tears, especially from Mary-Joe and Nova, as we stepped back into our house.

“It’s good to be back,” I said as Simon and I shook hands.

“It’s been too long Mr Ryder,” Simon said.

“We’re not leaving again any time soon,” Nova said.

After a very late dinner we all retreated to our bedrooms and I knew that nobody would be up early the next day. The air smelled different in Georgia and I felt a sense of calm when I drove into Hartwell. We were home.

I was up early the next morning, my internal clock always woke me up before five am. It was summer holidays and I left the house at seven am after a jog and a shower. I was going to surprise everyone with breakfast from the bakery. A little family celebration that was well deserved.

I also planned on talking to the boys about their future during this breakfast. They’d b