In Embers (The Ember Series Book 3) by Madison Daniel

kiss to the cheek of my daughter. Madi cooed wildly when Asia did it. There was a connection there. A connection very much like the one Asia and I shared, or at least, used to share.
    “This was the first chance we had to see Asia since returning home. I knew our daughter could help her,” Sam said, nodding Asia’s way. “I owed her this,” Sam finished.
    Feeling a bit guilty that I could no longer heal anyone, I shrank a little in my stance. My bangs fell forward, covering most of my eyes. “You did, huh.”
    “Yes. She risked everything to bring me back home,” Sam said, as fact.
    “For Madi,” Asia added, and the thunder rumbled again. Madi unsteadily ran up to me and I scooped her up in my arms. Her body was still warm from healing Asia. It felt wonderful.
    “She’s walking now?” I asked, holding her tighter. Her tiny lips made a messy pucker and pushed up against my cheek.
    “Dada!” she squealed.
    “And talking?” I gasped. Sam smiled at me before taking Madi into her arms. My hand brushed along Sam’s arm and time stopped for a moment. She glanced back at me to reveal that she felt it too.
    “She seems to be advancing a little faster than normal, probably has something to do with your side of the family,” Sam whispered. “She’s a big girl.”
    Asia tried to ignore us as she threw her things together swiftly. The rain had engulfed the hospital now and it rattled the windowpane like music.
    Asia politely interrupted, “Thank you again, Sam.”
    “I guess that makes us even,” Sam stated. A dull tension filled the room and I grew uneasy.
    “I guess so,” Asia grumbled, and pushed past all of us. Her eyes locked with mine and it paralyzed me. She continued out the door and was greeted by her little friend with the cold touch. King held out her small hand and Asia scooped it up and continued walking away without even looking back at me. I wanted to say something but couldn’t. Sam prepared herself and leaned into me as she retreated too.
    “We need to talk,” she said. Her face looked so amazing, I wanted to slide over and kiss her lips.
    “Okay, let’s talk,” I whispered.
    “Tomorrow.”
    “Why not now?” I asked confused.
    “Just come by the house tomorrow. Please,” she whispered back, and her eyes teased me. Softly, I ran my fingers along Madi’s warm cheeks and she laughed. Sam smiled, and said, “See you soon.”
    “Aloha,” I mumbled.
    Sam and Madi exited the room leaving me standing by myself. I looked around the cold hospital box before picking up the fallen bag of lunch and settled myself into Asia’s bed. It still smelled like her, cherry blossoms and rain. Quietly, I ate the food even though I had lost most of my appetite. The rain along the window glass kept me company until I was done. With my mind racing over the day’s events, I inhaled the last of Asia’s scent and left.

     
    TWELVE: SOUL SURFER
     
    ~ Room To Breathe: You Me At Six ~
     
    Hamoa Beach
     
    3:33 p.m.
     
    The waves. The sun. The sand. Over the years I’ve grown to love surfing, even if I wasn’t the best at it. Asia had taught me the basics, and I’ve been addicted to the rush ever since. Our days together on a secluded island in Fiji still pleasantly haunted me. They were some of my happiest days. Paradise.
    “Let it ride, Max,” I mumbled, squeezing some of the sea from my hair. Securely, I tucked my surfboard under my arm before running back into the oncoming wave. The water greeted me with cool resistance, painting my exposed skin in goose bumps. I stabbed my board into it and dove on top with my heart racing. I paddled out to the next wave which was much larger, and caught some movement from the corner of my eye. Something was out here with me. Something in the water. It was too late to turn back now so I ignored the torpedo-like shadow inside the rolling wave and paddled harder. The muscles in my arms tightened accordingly. The approaching shadow distracted me more than I wanted to