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As soon as they left our sight, Norm whined and padded around the lounge room, circling near Luke and me.

“Am I even here right now?” I asked, holding my free hand out to Norm. He pushed his nose into my palm, then gave it a quick lick. “It feels surreal.”

“This is the reward after everything you’ve been through,” Luke said.

My eyes burned, and I swallowed.

The door Dave had knocked on opened, and a man stepped out with the source of the cry we’d heard—a little girl in a pink onesie propped against his chest. Her dark curls were flattened on one side, and her cheeks were a soft pink. She rubbed her eyes and twisted in his arms, her eyes landing on me.

I smiled.

Theo closed the door behind him and ran a tattooed hand through his sleep-mussed hair. His t-shirt rode up, revealing more inked skin above the waistband of his track pants. He was so different to Sadie in appearance that I never would have imagined them together.

Norm leapt over to greet the two of them. Theo smiled, but the moment he saw Luke, he stopped and sifted his fingers absently through the dog’s fur.

His expression tightened, but it seemed to be more out of protection than hostility.

When his gaze shifted to me, I sent him a tentative smile, fully aware of how weird this situation was for everyone.

He repositioned the baby in his arms, his brow furrowing as he took in my hair and eyes, and—maybe—the smile I’d always been told resembled Sadie’s. It was the only physical feature we had in common.

Recognition flickered across his face, and his hand froze in Norm’s fur. “Ava?”

I nodded. Hearing someone else say my name, someone I didn’t even know, had tears threatening to fall.

His shoulders relaxed, and a grin lit up his grey eyes. “Shit. You actually made it.”

A laugh escaped me. “I can’t believe it either.”

“Wait. Who are you?” he asked Luke, stroking the little girl’s hair.

Luke’s lips tilted in the ghost of a smile. “Luke. I just came along for the ride.”

A moment passed while Theo adjusted to his new circumstances, then he scrubbed a hand over his face. “I need to go get Sadie right now.” He stared at me again as if confirming that I was still here. “Don’t move. I’ll be back in a minute.”

As if he’d remembered the rest of the house was asleep, Theo’s demeanour softened, and he padded down the hall in bare feet, whispering to the girl while Norm trailed closely behind him.

He cracked the same bedroom door open just enough to poke his head through the gap.

“Sadie.”

A murmured voice came from inside the room. Her voice.

Shivers prickled over my skin, and I fought the urge to break into loud, messy sobs.

“You need to come out here,” he said, his tone calm and unhurried.

Luke lifted our joined hands, pressing a kiss on the back of mine.

The floorboards creaked as she climbed out of bed, and my chin wobbled. I wanted to shake off Luke’s hold and run to her. Knock anyone down who got in my way.

Every beat of my heart lodged in my throat, and I pressed my palm there.

“You’re being so strange,” Sadie said. “What are you up to?”

For the last year, I’d only heard her voice over the phone. Listening to her speak in person without the interference and thousands of kilometres between us made my stomach dip.

“You need to go out there and see for yourself.” Theo clasped her chin in one hand, kissing her as he backed away from the door.