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Cassie wanted to say yes with resounding authority, but right now, she could only nod her head. Laura smiled and pulled away from the curb. She turned the corner and drove a quarter mile down Birch Street. Their parents’ house was on the left.
The sisters had grown up in Savannah, but when Laura went to college in California, their parents wanted a change of scenery. The family had always enjoyed Charlotte, and it wouldn’t be too far from Cassie, so it seemed like a practical move. Cassie had visited the house a few times, but it’d been a while. She’d forgotten how quaint it was.
Walter and Judy Quinn owned a nice little white Colonial home with blue shutters. It looked tidy from the outside, and Cassie knew without stepping a foot across the threshold that it would be the same on the inside. The gardens out front had been trimmed up for winter, but she could see how well her mother had taken care of the flowers.
Time slowed as Laura turned into the driveway. Her mother’s red Camry sat on one side, her father’s silver Buick on the other. It’d been a long time since they’d needed an SUV to haul their kids back and forth from sports practice, but Cassie still found it odd to see both of them driving sedans.
Cassie’s palms began to sweat and her breaths came in shallow spurts. Spots erupted in front of her eyes. For a moment, she considered the practicality of finding her way to the airport on foot and flying back to Savannah.
Laura parked and placed another gentle hand on Cassie’s leg. “It’s gonna be fine. You’ll see.”
Cassie pushed open her door. Her legs wobbled, but she took two deep breaths to clear her mind. The crisp air alleviated some of her worry. Worst-case scenario, her parents didn’t want to see her and she’d have to drive straight back to Savannah. But at least she’d know where they stood.
The girls pulled their suitcases out of the car and made their way up to the front porch. Cassie looked around to see if she could spot the ghost of the little boy. He’d been right next to the car when they’d left her house back in Savannah. Had he traveled with them? Would his presence extend to another state?
Seeing him now would’ve been an odd sort of comfort. But if he was around, he remained invisible.
Laura stopped at the front door and turned to Cassie. “How do you want to do this?”
“Just knock.” Cassie was still breathless, and her voice sounded miles away. “I’m gonna wing it.”
Laura rapped on the door. Cassie stood behind her, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Who would answer the door? What would Cassie say? How would her parents react? A million different scenarios raced through her mind until she was dizzy again.
When the knob turned, Cassie’s mind cleared.
She stepped to the side as the door opened, pulling her suitcase close. Whoever it was, she wanted a few extra seconds to gather herself before she announced her visit. Laura shot her a look, but when she turned back to the door, a bright smile had replaced her confusion.
“Surprise!”
Their father’s deep chuckle softened Cassie’s heart. “What are you doing here?”
“We thought we’d surprise you guys. Hope you don’t mind.”
“No, of course not.” He paused. “Did you say we?”
Cassie knew this was her cue, and before she could talk herself out of it, she stepped into view. Her father’s gaze shifted from Laura to Cassie, and their eyes met with what seemed like an audible click.
Walter Quinn was a tall, thin man with silver hair and a mustache. His eyes were dark and gentle, and his face harbored countless years of laugh lines. He was the type of person who took refuge in the silences between conversations. He looked a few years older than Cassie remembered, but still every inch of the father she had idolized growing up.
“Cassie?” His voice caught in his throat. “Is that really you?”
“Hi, Dad.” Cassie’s eyes watered. “Surprise.”
3
The entire world paused while Cassie’s father absorbed his daughter’s presence. When he stepped forward with open arms, Cassie caught sight of his watery eyes. She buried her face in his chest and breathed in his spicy cologne. His embrace was warm and firm and everything she’d missed about him over the last ten years.
He was the first to pull away and Cassie was quick to wipe away her tears. He held her at arm’s length and drank in her appearance. “What are you doing here?”
It took a second for Cassie to find her voice again. “We thought we’d surprise you. It’s been a while. I was hoping we could all talk and catch up.”
His eyebrows knit together. “Is something wrong? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m okay. I just thought it was time, you know?”
He took a minute to respond, but when he did, his words were heavy with meaning. “I know.”
Their father led them through the front door and into the entrance adjacent to the kitchen where they could kick off their shoes. He looked back and forth between them with an astonished smile on his face. “It’s nice to see you both in the same place.”
