Seasons Changing

I Thought You Knew

"It's sold? You-you sold this house in the last 12 hours?" Conrad asked. "Yes. To a-a lovely family with three children and some kind of a poodle mix". "This can't just be over" Jeremiah spoke up. "It is. Uh, I'm gonna need your keys, please." "I'll bet you're really enjoying this" Conrad said reaching for his keys. "Mom, don't do this". "Skye, really? I told you boys I was selling the house. You two just refused to believe it. And I'm not enjoying it but I will admit that I'm glad it's finally over. Come on Skye" Julia said as she headed to her car. 

Skye followed their mom and had some sort of argument. It ended with Julia leaving and Skye staying.

••••

"Okay. So, I know things aren't going so great right now, but it's always the darkest before the dawn right?" Jere says in attempt for a better view on things. "Yeah, not this time" Conrad says as he plays with the kitchen island. 

Skye then walks in and apologizes to the group and explains that they tried to get their mom to call off the deal. 

"It's not on you, Skye" Conrad assured. "I know but, she's my mom. So, I would get if you guys were angry with me, too. I just can't deal with her right now". "Hey, no one's mad at you, Skye" Jere says as he gives them a hug. "Yeah, like you said, she's your mom, not you" I chimed in. 

"So what? We're supposed to go home now?" Steven wondered aloud. "Yeah, it's over" Conrad spoke. "No! Our-our last memory here can't be this. Everyone miserable and defeated. I mean this place deserves a better goodbye than that" Belly tells the group. "Like what?" asked Conrad. "My mom came to the beach house with Susannah for the first time after her dad died. It was supposed to be just the two of them but Susannah hated how empty the house felt, so she decided to throw a huge party. Everyone was dancing and drinking. Everyone went dancing at midnight. Susannah said it was like... Gatsby or something. So I say that we throw a party too!" 

The room agreed one by one until we turn to Conrad who hadn't said anything yet. "I think it's exactly what my mom would have wanted. She'd love it". 

Belly then directs us to shower and nap before we get going on getting the party ready. 

"Hey, before we split up, I did want to remind you guys that even after this house is sold, we'll always have Cousins. My dad literally has a house right next door. If you guys ever need the feel of Cousins then come. I know it'll never be the same as here. But it's the most that I can do" I say as everyone nodded and dispersed. 

••••

"Summer's here will really never be the same huh"? "It's definitely gonna be a change. I mean, I remember our first summer up here. I was like seven-" "Oh my, it has not been that long". "Yeah, and they were always right next door. I remembered being scared to not have anyone to play with but then I saw Belly. You had the boys. Now it's never gonna be the same" I told Lucas as tears started to slide down my face. 

"Hey, it's okay, Ryan. We'll push through". "We always do. I don't want to have to push. I just want everything to be fine. We all fell apart so much this year. Now with nothing to come back to, what if we drift even further?" "You wouldn't let that happen though" he assured. 

Conrad then approached us in the empty family room. "Hey, uh, Ry?" "What's up Con?" "Wanna go on a supply run with me?" "Uh sure" I shrugged, "Who's driving?" 

••••

When we got to the store, Conrad attempted to use his fake ID for some alcohol. He failed with his horrible ID from Guam. 

"Do you want to like, go a few towns over where they don't know us as well? Or just try a different store?" he asked. "I don't think anyone is going to believe your Guam ID" I laughed. "Oh? Do you have any better ideas Ryan?" "What if... I just went in there and asked?" "That's not gonna work".