Abby imagined there were several things Sasha could say about her parents, having met them, but he wisely chose not to, and for that, she was also grateful.

"It is a huge relief," she nodded. They were trying, and that counted for something. They hadn't disowned her simply because she'd experienced something terrible or embarrassed them, and whether that was because they'd learned from what they'd done to Simon, or because doing so would leave them with no children at all, Abby didn't know. She hoped it was because they were learning and because they loved her. She hoped that everything Lori had tried to make her believe was wrong.

Abby smiled at the phone's Seery, which steered them away from the tourists.

His voice sounded clearly as they walked along the quiet path. His words, simple and kind, made her steps feel lighter. Abby imagined the letters themselves detaching from his words, dancing across her shoulders and settling under the collar of her cape like magical, enchanted creatures. She stood a little taller.

On impulse, Abby hugged his arm.

"I've missed you, too."

Slowly, in a gesture that was completely her own, she left a hand curled around his upper arm, and matched his stride.

Abby glanced up at Sasha, feeling a spark of hope buried underneath all the sharp cinders.