319: HOMECOMING

ARIEL'S POV "Ariel, what happened? Why are you here?" Luke's voice was filled with worry as he pulled back to study my face. "Did that woman throw you out of her house?" Taking a deep breath, I met his gaze, my resolve firm. "I'll explain everything, Luke. But first, we need to talk." "Sure," he said, stirring closer to me. "Let's go inside. Look at you. You're all soaked up." "Does that really matter right now?" "It does, Ariel. You might have a fever or something." "You will be by my side to take care of me at all times, correct?" Luke laughed and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, holding Janice on her shoulder as well. He led us into the warmth of the mansion, his arm never leaving my shoulders as if afraid I might vanish if he let go. Janice clung to my hand, her small face upturned, absorbing the grandeur of her new home. I couldn't actually read her mind, but I knew she loved this so much. You could see how she didn't hesitate when I told her that we were both leaving L