Broken Bridge

3

Three summers ago when Autumn, Leo, and Rose had just docked, Rose was the first to get out of the boat.

"Get me a bucket!" She ordered the closest person to her, me. "I'm going to throw up!"

"If you're in such a hurry, get it yourself." I said. Rose fumed and stalked off to find a bucket. Everyone was happy to see Autumn and Leo and as usual, hugs were given as well as I love you's and I missed you's and Welcome back's. Everyone moves up to Castle Ivory. It's almost dinnertime and the cooks have begun preparing the meal. Leo is sent by his mother to fetch Rose. Cassie and Olive are talking as they led the group into the spotless entryway. Jack was talking to Willow and Aurora. I really wanted to catch up with Leo but, since Autumn sent him to Orchid to get Rose. Everyone took their usual places around the dinning table.

"Leo and Rose are taking too long." Autumn said. "I'll go check on him." She got up and walked out of the room. Even though three out of twelve people were missing, it felt like a giant gap in the family. The cousins instantly started talking.

"Luna, Willow, and Aurora, do you want to play beach volleyball with us tomorrow?" Cassie asked. "When Leo gets back we'll ask him if he wants to play."

"Sure." Me and my siblings said in unison. We loved playing sports. Aurora was on the volleyball team, Willow was on the water polo team, and I was on the basketball team. Autumn, Leo, and Rose arrived a few minutes later just as the food was being served. It was the special when everyone had arrived; mash potatoes, salad, and salmon. Autumn announced she was getting back with her ex.

"With your ex?" Carol asked.

"Autumn!" Mom said. "You dumped him!"

"And why would you want to get back with him?" Massie asked.

"Carol! Massie! Jessica!" Autumn said. "We've thought it out already! We're getting back together and there's nothing you can do about it." Rose seemed to be happy about it. But Leo didn't. "And besides, Marc didn't do anything bad." Autumn said. The other Aunts and my mom exchanged looks.

"You should ask papa about this." Mom said. "See what he thinks!"

"I don't need papa to tell me who I can or can't marry." Autumn said.

"He's the head of the family!" Massie and Carol said.

"He has a say." Carol said. I had only met Marc once and all I can remember was his face and how Autumn cooed over him. I remember his hair was a dirty blonde and his eyes were bright blue. But from what mom and the Aunt's said, he's a bad person. An alcoholic to be exact. I don't know why Autumn wants to get back with him. Finally Autumn stood up. 

"You want me to talk to papa? Fine!" She said. "He'll say 'do whatever you want'! Why? 'Cause I'm his daughter!"

"We're all his daughters!" Mom said. "You, me, Massie, and Carol! And papa doesn't have favorites!" Me, Willow, Aurora, and my cousins finished dinner quickly and left. Rose was the only one who stayed. She probably stayed to side with Autumn. We ran to the roof. The wind was crisp and was starting to blow harder by the time we reached the roof.

"Will Autumn actually get back with Marc?" Cassie asked.

"She looked pretty confident about it." Aurora said.

"But what will Grandpapa say?" Willow asked.

"She probably won't listen to Grandpapa." Olive said.

"Or Grandpapa will let her get back with Marc." Jack said.

"He probably won't." I said. "No one likes Marc."

"Exept my mom." Leo said sadly. The wind blew harder and night drew in.

"We should go inside." Willow said. "It's getting cold and late." Everyone crawled through the window and went to their separate houses. I felt sorry for Leo that he would have to deal with Marc (if he got back with Autumn). Me, Willow, and Aurora walked down the stairs of the top floor. There were four floors in Broken Bridge and the bedrooms were on the third floor. Maple, Fir, Pine, and Cedar were on the top floor. Besides those, there were two bathrooms, the attic and mom's bedroom. I had asked her why she stayed on the fourth floor and not the third and she said she liked it up there. But, she rarely stays up there anyways (like I said earlier she mostly stays with Grandpapa in Castle Ivory). The fourth floor was mainly only used for us going to the roof. I got into my bed and stared at the dark ceiling thinking about today and dinner. Sleep came within hours and all I dreamt about was all I could remember of Marc. And it wasn't much.

Autumn has been with Marc for the past three summers. They are coming to California and will live in the same town as me. Marc doesn't go to the island over the summer. He doesn't want to be with the family. Autumn and Rose miss him but Leo doesn't.

"There are empty beer bottles everywhere." Leo told us. "Marc insists on me calling him dad. I mean, he is my dad but he's not my dad at the same time." Autumn is moving at the end of the summer and Leo and Rose have to leave early. Tears sneak into Leo's eyes. "I don't like him." He said. "I want Marc to go away."

"We know." Cassie said. "We want him to go away too." My face hardened.

"Then we have to make it happen."

They all looked at me.

"What?"

"Luna are you crazy?"

"We can't do that! Autumn and Rose are attached to Marc like leeches!"

"Well, leeches are leeches and they come off." I said. "Eventually."

And that's how the plan started. On the roof of Broken Bridge with the wind pushing at our backs and tiny waves crashing into the island shore. We thought of ideas and lies that turned into dead ends over and over again. Days passed and we still had nothing.

"Maybe we could make Marc mad at Autumn." Willow said.

"How?" Olive and Jack said together.

"Maybe tell him a lie about Autumn." Willow said. "We could do it when he's drunk."

"He's drunk all the time." Leo said. "Well, not all the time. But at least once or twice a day."

"Well," I said. "That's our only plan. We have to do it until we find a better one." I turned to Leo. "It's all up to you."