We all stare right back at them. Nobody says anything, because I don’t think anyone has the slightest idea what is going on. Me included.
Penny's smile fades as the seconds pass. She rolls her eyes, storming toward the door to point at the handmade sign hanging above it, which nobody had noticed until this very second:‘Cabin Crew’.
It’s not a cabin. It’s agiantlake house. That’s my first thought.
“Is that a flight attendant pun?” Wyatt asks dryly.
Seth reaches up to scratch his head, eyes narrowed on the sign like it’s a riddle that he’s supposed to solve.
“Who is a flight attendant?” Wyatt continues, glancing at EJ. “Whywould that ever be funny?”
“Dec.” Penny sighs, dropping her hands.
Declan huffs a laugh, holding out his arm for her. Disappointed, she trudges back to him and slides under it. He tugs her to her side, giving her a shake of reassurance.
“We bought this lakehouse,” he announces.
My eyes light up. Oh, how exciting!
Avery gasps, covering her smile with her hands, and Seth’s brows jump to his hairline.
“We,”Penny emphasizes, making a circular motion between the two of them and their friends on the grass.
Silence.
Seth’s face falls, seemingly solving the riddle from that one, little word.
“I have two loonies in my pocket,” EJ offers under his breath, and Wyatt busts out laughing.
Dec ignores him. “The paperwork is inside. All the six of you have to do is sign. It’s fully paid for, but it belongs to all of us, not just me and Lucky.”
More silence.
I slowly drag my eyes to the other side of the lawn, squinting at their friends through the sunlight—trying to gauge their reactions. This is exceptionally generous, and the gesture might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever witnessed, but the crew does not appear to share the same sentiments.
My brother finally seems to understand what Penny and Declan are implying. He lets out a low whistle.
The one thing this group of people will always do is take care of each other. That’s what Penny and Declan are doing in their own way. This is a gift to their friends. They bought them a place to spend time together…forever. It’s a family home.
It’s sweet. It makes my heart ache in the same way it did on the roof last night.
Boston and my brother glance at the group, holding their belongings at their sides, frozen in place.
The silence stretches on.
“Imighthave an American dollar in my pocket,” Wyatt says, breaking the quiet.
EJ snickers.
Declan and Penny’s frowns deepen.
“It’s not a joke,” Declan says.
“It’s so we can spend our summers together, and you guys can use it all year round. It’s four seasons, so it’s weather-proofed. However we want to do this, it’s ours to decide,” Penny continues.
“It’s where we can all grow old and gray together, alright?” Declan sighs, dropping his hand. “And Lucky and I will stay here whenever we’re home.”
Silence, still.
