Niamh asked us to stay for the celebration, but I couldn’t wait any longer to see my mother. Liam was even more anxious, with good reason.Aodhan wouldn’t be coming back with us. He would be staying at the shore, where he planned to continue restoring the damage caused by Aoife. He promised to visit often, which made me glad.Ciarán offered to stay and help Aodhan and it was the first time I’d ever seen Samantha so happy. She promised to come see me in Stoneville soon as she hugged me tight.Niamh and Aodhan took a break from the festivities to escort us back to the portal. When we were all in the dining room beside the mural where the portal was located, she turned to face us with an odd expression.“I’d like to re-route the portal for you,” she said. “I won’t have much use for the house in Wheelock anymore. If it would be okay, I’d like to open a portal at your house in Stoneville, Liam. I’d like you to be the official portal guardian.”“That would be an honor,”
