tomorrow, remember?”ऀ䤀 渀漀搀搀攀搀 洀礀 栀攀愀搀Ⰰ ᰀ圠椀氀氀 礀漀甀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 欀椀搀猀 戀攀 昀椀渀攀㼀ᴀഠ
“We sure will,” He smiled, “And besides, after all your plans with your sisters, it will be out time together.”ऀ䤀 渀漀搀搀攀搀 洀礀 栀攀愀搀Ⰰ ᰀ传欀愀礀☀䤠 氀漀瘀攀 礀漀甀⸀ᴀഠ
“I love you more.”ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
㜀ഀ
“forgiving myself will be harder to do when it's over.." –Matthew Morisson, “It’s Over”ഀ
“Come on in,” Caroline said as she led me in to her and Robbie’s house the following morning. Our other sisters, Leigh and Mindy and our brother, Drake, were sitting on the carpeted floor, a bowl of popcorn, burgers and fries near them.ऀᰀ圠漀眀Ⰰᴀ†䤀 攀砀挀氀愀椀洀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䰠漀漀欀猀 氀椀欀攀 眀攀ᤀ爠攀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 猀攀琀 昀漀爀 愀 洀漀瘀椀攀 洀愀爀愀琀栀漀渀☀ᴠഠ
“Well, sissy, we’ve always done this,” Mindy quipped, “You’re just never around.”ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰᴀ†䤀 洀甀琀琀攀爀攀搀 愀猀 䤀 猀愀琀 搀漀眀渀 漀渀 琀栀攀 挀愀爀瀀攀琀 渀攀砀琀 琀漀 䐀爀愀欀攀⸀ ᰀ夠漀甀 搀漀 琀栀椀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀洀 琀漀漀㼀ᴀഠ
“Yeah, some days,” He said, “But don’t worry, you didn’t miss too much.” He smiled.ऀ䤀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 戀愀挀欀Ⰰ ᰀ匠漀☀眠栀愀琀 愀爀攀 眀攀 眀愀琀挀栀椀渀最 琀漀搀愀礀㼀ᴀഠ
“We’re thinking Breakfast at Tiffany’s…” Caroline said.ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰ 渀漀Ⰰ 栀漀渀攀礀Ⰰ 猀栀攀ᤀ猠 琀栀攀 漀渀氀礀 漀渀攀 眀栀漀 眀愀渀琀猀 琀栀愀琀℀ᴀ†䴀椀渀搀礀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠ᤀ洠 琀栀椀渀欀椀渀最 洀漀爀攀 漀昀 匀琀愀爀 圀愀爀猀Ⰰ 漀爀 洀愀礀戀攀 猀漀洀攀 䴀愀搀攀氀椀渀攀☀ᴠഠ
“Ooh, Madeline!” I exclaimed, “I haven’t seen that cartoon forever…”ऀᰀ䌠愀爀琀漀漀渀㼀ᴀ†䴀椀渀搀礀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ圠愀椀琀Ⰰ 椀猀渀ᤀ琠 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 栀漀爀爀漀爀 琀栀椀渀最㼀ᴀഠ
“Horror? I think you’re thinking of Matilda, Minds…” Leigh said.ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰ 爀椀最栀琀Ⰰᴀ†䴀椀渀搀礀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 瀀椀挀欀椀渀最 甀瀀 ᰀ䴠愀琀椀氀搀愀ᴀ†昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 挀攀渀琀攀爀 琀愀戀氀攀⸀ഀ
Caroline laughed, “Now that’s more like you.”ऀᰀ匠栀甀琀 椀琀Ⰰᴀ†䴀椀渀搀礀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀 愀猀 猀栀攀 琀栀爀攀眀 愀 瀀椀氀氀漀眀 漀渀 栀攀爀⸀ഀ
“So, Kimmie, what do you wanna see?” Leigh asked.ऀᰀ唠栀洀☀䴠愀搀攀氀椀渀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 最漀漀搀Ⰰ 漀栀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 猀漀洀攀 䔀搀眀愀爀搀 匀挀椀猀猀漀爀栀愀渀搀猀℀ᴀഠ
“Ooh Edward!” Mindy exclaimed, “I looove that movie! Tragic!”ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰ 眀攀氀氀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 昀愀洀椀氀礀 搀漀攀猀 氀漀瘀攀 琀爀愀最攀搀椀攀猀☀ᴠ†䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 焀甀椀瀀瀀攀搀 愀渀搀 眀攀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀⸀ഀ
“I have an idea,” I said, “Why don’t we watch some Disney movies?”ऀᰀ䠠攀礀Ⰰ 栀攀礀Ⰰ 渀漀 䐀椀猀渀攀礀℀ᴀ†䐀爀愀欀攀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ
“Come on,” Caroline said, “Don’t be such a wuss. You love Toy Story, and Bee movie, and…”ऀᰀ传欀愀礀Ⰰ 漀欀愀礀Ⰰ 眀攀 挀愀渀 眀愀琀挀栀 琀栀漀猀攀 戀甀琀 渀漀 䐀椀猀渀攀礀 倀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀攀猀℀ᴀഠ
“Why? I always wanted to be Cinderella…” Caroline smiled.ऀᰀ丠愀栀Ⰰ 礀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 䄀氀椀挀攀⸀ᴀ†䤀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ
“No,” Caroline said, “Mindy’s Alice.”ऀᰀ圠攀氀氀Ⰰ 䤀 眀漀渀ᤀ琠 搀椀猀愀最爀攀攀☀ᴠ†䴀椀渀搀礀 猀愀椀搀 愀猀 猀栀攀 搀爀愀渀欀 猀漀洀攀 䘀漀甀爀 匀攀愀猀漀渀猀 琀攀愀⸀ഀ
“And who am I then?” Leigh asked.ऀᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ爠攀 䨀愀猀洀椀渀攀Ⰰ 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀㼀ᴀ†䴀椀渀搀礀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ夠漀甀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀 戀攀 䨀愀猀洀椀渀攀Ⰰ 眀椀琀栀 愀 洀愀最椀挀 氀愀洀瀀⸀ᴀഠ
“Alladin has the magic lamp.” Drake said.ऀᰀ圠攀氀氀Ⰰ 䨀愀猀 椀猀 栀椀猀 最椀爀氀⸀ᴀ†䰀攀椀最栀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ
I laughed, “You guys are funny.”ऀ䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 琀栀攀渀 瀀氀漀瀀瀀攀搀 椀渀 愀 圀椀渀渀椀攀 琀栀攀 倀漀漀栀 洀漀瘀椀攀⸀ഀ
“Err, I hate Pooh’s voice,” Leigh said, “He’s like…it’s like he has a sore throat.”ऀ䤀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ爠攀 戀愀搀⸀ᴀഠ
“What? It’s true.” She smiled.ऀ䤀 搀爀愀渀欀 猀漀洀攀 樀甀椀挀攀⸀ ᰀ匠漀Ⰰ 䐀爀愀欀攀Ⰰ 栀漀眀 愀爀攀 礀漀甀 愀渀搀 䌀栀攀猀欀愀㼀ᴀഠ
“What?” He said, “Well, we’re friends. We’ve always been friends.”ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰ 愀氀氀 琀栀攀猀攀 ᰀ圠攀爀攀 樀甀猀琀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀ᴀ†琀栀椀渀最 椀猀 最攀琀琀椀渀最 漀氀搀⸀ᴀ†䰀攀椀最栀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ
“Hey, you and Neil were just friends!” Drake said with quotation marks in the air.ऀᰀ䄠渀搀 猀漀 眀攀爀攀 䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 愀渀搀 刀漀戀戀椀攀℀ᴀ†䰀攀椀最栀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 戀氀甀猀栀椀渀最⸀ഀ
Caroline laughed, “Hey don’t put it on me. You and Kyle still talking?”ऀᰀ匠漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀Ⰰ 栀攀ᤀ猠 洀愀爀爀椀攀搀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀㼀 䄀渀搀 戀攀猀椀搀攀猀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀攀瘀攀爀 椀琀 眀愀猀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 甀猀Ⰰ 椀琀ᤀ猠 漀瘀攀爀⸀ 䤀ᤀ洠 栀愀瀀瀀礀 渀漀眀⸀ᴀഠ
“Obviously,” Caroline winked.ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰ 眀愀椀琀Ⰰ 愀爀攀 礀漀甀 最漀渀渀愀 愀搀漀瀀琀 猀漀漀渀Ⰰ 䌀㼀ᴀ†䤀 愀猀欀攀搀⸀ഀ
“Wow, you never just called me “C”!” She smiled, “Oh well…about that…we’re thinking about it. We’re just taking things as they come.”ऀᰀ䤠ᤀ洠 栀愀瀀瀀礀 昀漀爀 礀漀甀Ⰰᴀ†䤀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ删漀戀戀椀攀ᤀ猠 愀 最爀攀愀琀 最甀礀⸀ᴀഠ
She smiled as she glanced at Robbie in the kitchen, “He is.” She said. “Mark is, too.”ऀᰀ䤠 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 搀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 栀椀洀⸀ᴀ†䤀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ
“Hey, what’s with the pity party? We’re here to enjoy!” Mindy said.ऀᰀ匠栀攀ᤀ猠 爀椀最栀琀Ⰰᴀ†䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 愀搀搀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䈠攀猀椀搀攀猀Ⰰ 䬀椀洀洀椀攀Ⰰ 礀漀甀ᤀ瘠攀 戀攀攀渀 琀栀椀渀欀椀渀最 琀漀漀 洀甀挀栀⸀ 䴀愀爀欀 氀漀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 礀漀甀 氀漀瘀攀 栀椀洀⸀ 䔀瘀攀爀礀琀栀椀渀最 攀氀猀攀 愀爀攀 樀甀猀琀 琀爀椀愀氀猀⸀ 䤀 欀渀漀眀 礀漀甀 Ⰰ 䬀Ⰰ 礀漀甀ᤀ氠氀 戀攀 昀椀渀攀⸀ᴀഠ
“Will you guys do my eulogy?”ऀᰀ䬠椀洀℀ᴀ†䰀攀椀最栀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ
“Come on, please. Will you?”ऀ䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 猀椀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䬠椀洀᐀ᰠഠ
“Please?” I said, “Guys?”ऀᰀ䘠椀渀攀Ⰰᴀ†䰀攀椀最栀 琀漀漀欀 愀 搀攀攀瀀 戀爀攀愀琀栀Ⰰ ᰀ戠甀琀 漀渀氀礀 椀昀 眀攀 最攀琀 漀渀 愀渀搀
眀愀琀挀栀 琀栀椀猀 洀漀瘀椀攀⸀ᴀഠ
I smiled, “You’re the best. I wish I told you guys that before.”ऀᰀ䠠攀爀攀 猀栀攀 最漀攀猀 愀最愀椀渀☀ᴠ†䴀椀渀搀礀 洀甀琀琀攀爀攀搀⸀ഀ
“No, seriously,” I said, “I was a crappy sister. And you had to deal with that all the time. I wish I was better.”ऀᰀ圠攀 愀氀氀 栀愀瘀攀 昀愀甀氀琀猀Ⰰᴀ†䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ
“And flaws.” Drake added.ऀᰀ删椀最栀琀Ⰰᴀ†䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䌠漀洀攀 漀渀Ⰰ 猀琀漀瀀 昀攀攀氀椀渀最 戀愀搀 愀戀漀甀琀 椀琀⸀ 圀攀ᤀ爠攀 洀漀瘀椀渀最 昀漀爀眀愀爀搀 漀欀愀礀㼀 䄀渀搀☀椠琀ᤀ猠 渀漀琀 琀漀漀 氀愀琀攀⸀ᴀഠ
I smiled lightly.ऀᰀ䄠栀栀Ⰰᴀ†䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 猀愀椀搀 愀渀搀 栀甀最最攀搀 洀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀猀 猀漀漀渀 樀漀椀渀攀搀 椀渀Ⰰ 琀漀漀⸀ഀ
“I didn’t know group hugs were amazing.” I smiled.ऀᰀ䬠椀洀洀椀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀 猀漀 洀愀渀礀 琀栀椀渀最猀 礀漀甀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 欀渀漀眀 愀戀漀甀琀Ⰰᴀ†䰀攀椀最栀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䰠椀欀攀 栀漀眀 最漀漀搀 琀栀椀猀 倀漀漀栀 洀漀瘀椀攀 椀猀⸀ᴀഠ
I laughed,