Free Darkness Series Epilogue by Claire Contreras Page B

suite and took the plunge. They decided to wait on having children for a while, until one night when they saw a news report about a poorly kept orphanage, and they decided to adopt. They first met Riley when he was just shy of a year old, but didn’t get custody of him until he was two. We were all for it and supported them throughout the long process. Since adoption is what I concentrate on the most these days, they asked me to take charge of all of their legal work. Aimee works alongside Mark in his law firm as a criminal attorney, and works long hours so she couldn’t concentrate on the case as much as she would have liked. Between the law suit that the orphanage was facing, and everything surrounding the adoptions taking place, it took them over a year to take Riley home. But once he got there, it was as if he’d always been part of the family. He and Logan are in the same classroom, the same little league teams, and like the same things so they’re basically attached at the hip.   
    “Hey, Ry, what are you guys up to?” I ask as I settle into the drivers seat and switch the air on. It’s a hot day in May, which is a change from the cold front we had last week.   
    “Hey Aunt Blake, we’re playing basketball with dad. Can we go to the party already? Is the bounce house there?” Riley asks excitedly.   
    “No, Ry. Let me talk to your dad, please,” I reply.   
    “Mommy! Goldfish!” Carley whines from the back seat, pointing at the small carton of Goldfish I ave sitting in the cup holder.  
    I sigh and place my cellphone on speaker, opening the carton and handing it to her.  
    “Thank you, Mommy,” she says sweetly once she has it on her lap.  
    “You’re welcome, sweetie. Be careful!” I say, internally pleading that she doesn’t make a mess in my just cleaned car.  
    “Hey,” Aubry says suddenly, his voice filling the car.  
    “Uncle Auby!” Carley shouts from the backseat.  
    “Hey, sugar!” he coos. “How’s my favorite Ninja Turtle doing?”  
    “Good,” she giggles.   
    “Are you going to jump in the bounce house with me?” he asks sweetly.  
    “Hmmhmm!” she replies through a mouth full of Goldfish.  
    “Cool! See you later!” he says. “What’s up, Cowboy?”  
    I take a deep breath before letting it out slowly as I look at the front of my two story, white colonial home. I close my eyes and throw my head back onto the headrest. “Miles messed up the house. I’m on my way to get new cupcakes while Cole picks up. Everything is a mess, Aubry. A mess.”  
    He lets out a laugh. “I told you Boxers were crazy dogs! But noooobody listens to Aubry!”  
    I roll my eyes. “You’ve never had a dog, why would anybody listen to you?”  
    “Because I know people with dogs, obviously.”  
    “Whatever,” I mutter. “Give us another thirty minutes.”  
    “You want Aimee to go to the store for you? You sound stressed.”  
    “I’m fine,” I reply. “Thank you though.”  
    “You’re tired, Cowboy. You need to rest. I don’t know why you didn’t just let us take Lo to the park or the arcade or something, you know he didn’t need a party,” Aubry says sternly.  
    “I’m fine!” I respond. “I really am. And he wanted a party.”  
    Logan has been asking me for a party since the school year started. He didn’t really care to invite his entire classroom, but he did request a bounce house and for it to be Ninja Turtle themed. Who am I to turn down a four year old’s simple request?   
    “All right, well call me when you want us to head out,” Aubry responds before hanging up.  
    I pull the car out of the driveway and maneuver my way around our neighborhood. All of the trees are blooming and leaves are green. A beautiful sight after the cold winter we had. By the time I pull up at the store and park, I notice that Carley is fast asleep. Of course she is. I squeeze my eyes shut and bang the back of my head with my headrest, cursing myself