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Navarro house

Titusville, Virginia

Five days later

After his first bite of a fully loaded burger Archer doubted the day could get better, until Tash leaned over him and swiped a potato chip through some bean dip, laughing like a loon at something Autumn said. Archer’s arm went around his son and squeezed him, and Tash’s smile bloomed up at him, wide and happy. He kept staring at his little boy, tanned and fit, strong, and what a talker he was now. That was thanks to everyone in Titusville, and especially the little girl next to him, Autumn Merriweather. He’d spoken at length with Rebel and with Autumn’s parents about the gifts the kids shared, gifts he now embraced. He wondered yet again what would have happened if they hadn’t found him in Barcelona. He thought of Celia, thanked her silently for giving him their son, their gifted son. He would take his clues about how to deal with Tash’s gifts from the Merriweathers now, and from Agent Savich. They’d told him not to worry, that it would be enough for them to be honest with each other, and for him to love and support Tash as any father would his son. And to believe him.

“I will leave you here for the rest of the summer while I try to set the Navarro Investment Fund to rights, woo back some clients if I’m able to. I’m hoping some of them will forgive me for my failure to protect the money they invested with my fund. Even though Carla refused to give the location of the money she and Sasha stole, it’s being tracked, and some has already been found and returned.

Archer looked over his son’s head at Rebel. He knew he’d never be able to repay him, but he’d try.

Everyone spoke at once. Autumn beamed pleasure at Tash, her thoughts clear as a shout in his ear. It’s going to be amazing, Tash. Amazing.