Chapter 429

• The young girl suddenly looked small, scared and vulnerable and John had a flashback to the frightened waif that had stowed away on his ship all those weeks ago. He held her close to him.
• "Don't worry honey, this is your life now. It will take a little while to get used to all these changes, but you will. You're allowed to be happy" he said to her reassuringly.
• Alyssa looked up at him, her eyes welling with tears "I love you John" she said earnestly.