State of Grace (29 page)
It’s just, I’m not convinced that stopping Shepherd is what I want to do with my life. At least, not at the moment.
Right now, all I really want to do is be with Luke and, when it’s safe, get on my device and call my mum and tell her I love her.
To say sorry for running away like I did.
The wind is blowing. If I still had my long hair the way the Books said I should, it would have been whipping my face right now.
But my hair’s all gone, cut off by Luke on our very first night of freedom. So now I can feel the wind on my neck, the old scar and the scab of the new cut. And anyone who chooses to look can see them too.
I won’t be hiding that Grace is part of me. I just won’t be making it my whole entire life.
Luke’s hand feels warm and heavy in mine. Guy’s walking ahead of us, keeping his distance and giving us space.
‘Okay?’ Luke asks me.
‘Yeah,’ I tell him. ‘Just thinking.’
‘Just having a Viva moment,’ Luke supplies.
‘That would be it.’
‘I like Viva moments,’ Luke tells me. ‘I like Viva, too.’
Inside I feel this quavery thrill. ‘Yeah?’
‘Yup.’
I forget about Grace. I forget about Guy and Fern and Gil and Lainie Shepherd. I forget about everything apart from me and Luke and this actual moment.
The only thing I’m aware of is this crazy desire to jump on Luke’s back and put my arms around his neck and just cling on to him forever and ever.
Luke looks across at me, dark eyes all intense, dreadlocks gone, just this gleaming brown cap of hair in their place. He does his mouth thing, twisting sideways and down.
‘How do
you
feel about Viva?’
I tell him the absolute truth, because that’s how I want it to be between us from here on in.
‘I’m only just getting to know her,’ I tell him. ‘But you know what? I actually think she’s pretty okay.’
Author photo by David Mitchener
Hilary Badger has written two series for middle-grade readers, including Space Scout and the best-selling Zac Power books. She is also the author of
Giving His Best
, a biography of Australian cyclist Cadel Evans for younger readers.
State of Grace
is her first Young Adult novel.
Hilary has no spare time, but if she did she would fill it reading, cooking and hanging out with her family.
Thank you to everyone at Hardie Grant Egmont for supporting
State of Grace
so enthusiastically. In particular, I am so grateful to Hilary R for guiding me but also letting me find my way. And for never once asking why the manuscript was taking so long!
Thanks to Arma and Arpa for being there, minding the children and believing I could do literally anything.
And to Rob, Caspar and Romy … I love you.
State of Grace
published in 2014 by
Hardie Grant Egmont
Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street
Richmond,Victoria 3121, Australia
www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and copyright holders.
A CiP record for this title is available from the National Library of Australia
eISBN 9781743582589
Text copyright © Hilary Badger
Illustration and design copyright © Hardie Grant Egmont
Cover and text design by Steph Spartels
Typeset by Ektavo
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