Finding Honour: Day 20

Word Total: 121,331

Year to Date: 932,073

Summary of Events:
Chapter 39:
Honour was supposed to be getting ready for a gathering to celebrate her return, but refused to get ready because Borden wasn't out of the hospital yet and no one was mentioning him or caring about him at all. She succeeded in getting the party postponed. The next day Borden was released from hospital and went to make sure the party was still going on when Eira's parents showed up.
Chapter 40:
The party went on, with the mayors of Mackenzie and Nanaimo, the Premier of BC, and the Lieutenant Governor of BC all speaking. The Lieutenant Governor encouraged people to forgive Borden for what he'd been arrested for and accept that he was wanting to try and be a better person. Many people did — although Borden's dad wasn't among the number. Borden then got offered a job with a search and rescue company he decided to seriously consider, and Eira headed home with her parents to get her things and move in with a friend of hers who now lived in Prince George — although she was unsure of what she was going to be doing beyond that.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Eira's fingers left Borden's jaw as she looked. Judging by the silence of Honour and Mr. Pavelick, Borden guessed they were looking too — although he didn't check. A police officer got out of the car and spoke into the opened window of the SUV, then got back into his cruiser and peeled off.
A couple — both with dark hair, although Borden couldn't ascertain if it was necessarily black — emerged from the SUV and Borden heard Eira gasp. The couple headed toward the front door.
Borden glanced at Eira as she ran toward the front door. He got up as she threw it open and raced across the space between her and the only people the couple could possibly be: her parents.
Honour hurried to the door and Borden followed after. They stood on the doorstep and watched Eira and her parents as they embraced and wept and spoke rapidly in irish — Borden didn't bother guessing at what they might be saying, he knew nothing of Gaelic.
After they'd sufficiently embraced and wept and whatnot Eira turned to Borden and Honour and led her parents forward.
"This is the other girl who was missing with me," Eira said, sliding a hand around Honour's shoulders.
"Honour Sorken," Eira's mother said — her voice thick with brogue.
"And y' must be 'er father," Eira's father said to Borden.
Borden startled and felt his face go red. He put his hand to his wound and wished they could rewind, forget that ever happened, and start over again.
"No," Eira said, sounding a little surprised.
"My dad's dead," Honour said. "He and my mom blew up in a car crash."
Eira's mother stared openmouthed and wide-eyed at Honour.
"I'm sorry," Eira's father said. "Y' just look so similar."
Borden wanted to make a light comment, but he was still busy catching his breath.
"Borden trekked through the forest and mountains to rescue us," Eira said. "And led us back through them and protected us on the way here."
"And if I understand correctly you should be grateful to him that your daughter's alive and breathing," Mr. Pavelick said.
Borden startled again and felt the flush return to his face.
"I understand the gangster was going to shoot her, but he stepped in and took it," Mr. Pavelick said. "And as much as I don't understand Metric, they say he was millimetres away from dying himself."
Mr. O'Riordan looked at Borden as if awed. Borden reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, feeling rather embarrassed.
"Y're an 'onour'ble man," Mr. O'Riordan said.
Borden gave Mr. O'Riordan a grateful glance. Someone actually was calling him honourable.
Mrs. O'Riordan then stepped forward and did something Borden would never have expected: she embraced Borden. Borden was startled at first, but he relaxed after a bit — even if he didn't return the embrace."

The next novel will begin on November 1, check back on October 30 for the Essential Information.