Bed & Breakfast

Ch. 20 Time for a Reunion

*** Lou's POV ***

"Make sure you pack your sweaters." I reminded Parker.

"I have not missed the cold." Riley commented, buzzing past us carrying a pair of boots.

We had spent the past five months living in Arizona. Left the lush green of New York State for the dry heat of the desert. None of us were happy here, but when I formally became the kids custodial guardian, I made them a promise that we'd do at least one complete term of school before we'd make any decisions about relocating again.

The news that Stan was finally caught and going to trial made it hard though. With the threat removed, we were free to go wherever we wanted again. I think we all secretly wanted the same thing, but I had asked the kids at one point not to talk about Andie so much. We all missed her and the odd little life we carved out while hiding out at the inn. I reached a point at which I was second guessing everything and that's when I put the embargo in place.

And now it hung in the air. We all agreed to head "home" for the holiday, but we really had no clear plans of what that meant. My parents would be beyond happy to see us again. Up until Stan's capture, I could only let them know that we were together and safe. And even since his capture, I had kept our contact limited because I knew the whole situation was painful for them, me with my niece and nephew across the country and my sister still MIA. I could just imagine their faces if we strolled in Christmas morning.

But for as much as I'd like to surprise my parents, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want to make a beeline for Andie. Not a day had gone by that I hadn't thought of her, regretful that I hadn't been selfish and brought her with us. Everyday since Stan was taken in and we were released from our exile, I've wanted to call her, beg forgiveness, and tell her if she let me return to her that I'd never leave her again.

But I didn't call because I made a promise and I didn't trust myself not to break it if she said she forgave me. I was now fully responsible for these kids' physical, mental, and socal well-being. And I know I made the right call because they flourished with the mundane routine of going to school. They made new friends and participated in extracurriculars. They actually got to be kids. I wondered if they could handle another transfer. I was getting ahead of myself.

"Sure you have." Parker challenged his sister. "You spent summer complaining about the heat."

"That was in the summer."

"Should we get Andie a Christmas gift?" Parker changed the subject.

My head snapped to him. "What?"

"What are we getting Andie for Christmas?" Riley asked.

I could feel my cheeks growing red. "Um, so you want to see Andie while we're in town?"

Riley scoffed. "Like you really planned to return to New York and not see her. Yeah, okay."

Parker was always a little slow on the sarcasm. "Wait, we're not going straight to Andie's? Why not?"

I sighed. "I'd like to. It's just...what if she doesn't want to see me again? What if she has moved on?"

"She hasn't." Riley and Parker echoed in unison. I narrowed my eyes at them and Riley jumped to explain. "We don't know for certain, but it was obvious she was as much in love with you as you are with her. And it's Andie."