Chapter 21

"Allison Klassen!" a voice yelped in recognition right before Allie found herself seized in a chokehold and squeezed until she was breathless. "How the heck are you, little girl!?"

Allie laughed and tugged at Serena's elbow, pulling it down and gasping for breath. She looked into the beautiful brown eyes of one of her mother's oldest friends. Warmth flooded Allie and she felt completely at peace for the first time since coming back to the coast. She knew Serena would be pleased to see her. Allie was just happy to find the older Salish woman still working at the shelter where Veronica and Allie had first met her twenty-five years ago when they'd been evicted from their Downtown Eastside apartment a few blocks away. Serena had welcomed them with open arms back then too.

"You look wonderful, Aunty Serena," Allie said, grinning.