Then, Ding-dong. The doorbell cut sharply through the silence.
Ayla froze at her place. Her heart skipped, then began to race. She glanced at the clock on the wall.
9:18 p.m.
No one ever came by this late. Not friends, not neighbors. And her sister would never show up unannounced, especially not from another country.
She slowly closed her book and set it aside, the quiet suddenly feeling heavy.
Ding-dong.
Her breath caught.
"Okay," she whispered to herself. "It's fine."
She quietly made her way to the door, careful with each step to avoid the creaks in the floor. Her fingers hovered near the lock until she remembered the peephole.
Leaning in, she held her breath.
And then….
Her heart nearly dropped.
Liam was standing there, illuminated by the porch light.
