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“Okay.”

“Hey, me and Neena are going to a spa and getting a cabin out in the woods to go visit nature. We are going to have fun, just like you will.”

“That does sound like fun.” I say to her and hug her.

The smell of vanilla and cherries fill my nose and I breathe it in.

“Now, go get washed up while I finish dinner.”

“Yes ma’am.” I say, and hop up to go do just that.

SEVEN

A week later.

“Are you two okay with pizza tonight?” my father asks as we pull into his house.

My brother answers before I even have the time to.

“Yes, yes!”

I laugh at his enthusiasm as we get out, and start unloading the vehicle.

The drive was not as awkward as last years, so I tried to engage in small talk with him as we drove down the highway. Since this was going to be a thing for a while, I figured maybe I could try.

The key word is try.

“Raven, I love your hair oh my word!” I hear from the front door, and snap my head to look at where the voice came from.

Marie stood there in a purple lounge set with a big grin on her face. Her red hair was shorter than last year, but she did look pretty.

Rolling my suitcase toward her. “Thank you.”

“Wow, you look stunning.” she gushes. “I can’t believe how grown up you look from only a years time.”

Luckily, she doesn’t make a move to hug me, because we were not at that stage.

I settle for a smile.

“Thanks.” I say to her as we talk inside the front door.

Ryan runs in and jumps on the big couch in the living room.

I mean, the house was completely different from the one we live in. Where they had a huge couch and nice furniture, we had what we could afford on a low budget income. It was hard not to compare when it was night and day, but I knew my mom did the best she could with what we had.

Willow did say I could work part time during the summer at Between the Pages, so I was saving all of my money to surprise my mom.

She more than likely won’t take the money from me, but she can’t do anything if I walk to the grocery store and get some things to help out.

Speaking of, I check the time and see I have about an hour or so before they close. Maybe I can surprise Willow.

“I’m going to go out to the square.” I tell my father as I set my bag next to the stairs.

He checks his watch. “Right now?”

“Yeah, Willow is at work.”

That’s the only explanation that was needed.