AllFreeNovel
Share Us
3
It feels like a moshpit of emotions inside my body. I still can’t believe I’ll finally see Reid again. Aunt Helena too, but I’m more excited to reunite with my cousin, who was once my best friend.
“Ready, kiddo?” Dad takes the suitcase when I reach the bottom of the stairs. “You haven’t forgotten anything, right?”
“I have all I need,” I say while thinking hard. “Skateboard, sketchpad, clothes. Yep. So, Aunt Helena is picking me up at the airport?”
“Her driver.” He sputters a mocking sound. “She’ll be in the backseat. My sister doesn’t drive herself anywhere.”
Mom shushes him and playfully slaps his arm. “It’s the life she knows.”
“That certainly is the truth.” He walks out the front door, loading my suitcase into the car.
“I’ll miss you, sweetie,” Mom says before pulling me in for a snug embrace. When I ease away, she touches my cheek tenderly. “Say hi to them for me. Hope you enjoy your time there.”
“I’m sure I will. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too.” She follows me to the car, and I wave as Dad takes off for the airport.
Here I come, Reid.
I hope that after this summer, we’ll at least spend the holidays together.
I sketch to alleviate my nervousness for the short flight from Philadelphia to Hartford. It only intensifies once I land.
Retrieving my suitcase, I step into the warm air and search the line of vehicles waiting. A burly man in a formal shirt and pants standing at the silver Range Rover seems to be waving me over.
After a quick look around to ensure, I tighten my grip on the suitcase and drag it towards him.
“Welcome, Cassandra,” he says kindly in a naturally gruff voice. “I’m Wren Phillips. Ms. Radcliff’s driver.”
“Nice to meet you.” I shake his outstretched hand, asking, “Where is my aunt?”
He slants and opens the backdoor for me. Sticking my head into the coolness of the air-conditioned car, I gasp at the gorgeous woman.
Aunt Helena still looks the same.
“Hello, Cassandra,” she greets in her smooth and sophisticated voice, a smile curling her red lips.
“Hi, Aunt Helena.” I take in her appearance some more, noting how her skin looks as flawless as ever even though she’s wearing makeup. Her reddish-brown hair appears fresh from the salon with trimmed ends and a luster. Her cheekbones are plump and high.
She constricts her piercing green gaze, and the motion snaps me out of my gawking.
I hurry in for Wren to shut the door. He takes my suitcase to the back of the car.
“Look at you.” Aunt Helena heaves me into a hug, humming in delight when we part. “How are you, Cassandra? It’s been so long.”
“Um, I’m good. Thanks for inviting me here for the summer.”
She nods. “I’m glad you came.”
Wren gets in behind the wheel and takes off right away.
My aunt’s unraveling gaze has me shifting on the seat. “You’re beautiful. You look exactly like your mother when Jeff first introduced her to the family.”
“Thank you.”
She frowns a little. “I’m sure you must have missed my son terribly. You two were inseparable as children.”
