Finding Rebecca

Chapter 9

"So," my dad begins as we're driving home. "How did you girls get nailed by the cops?" 
"We were egging Connor O'Brian's house," Rebecca replied breezily. 

"I thought you guys were dating," my dad says, confused. 

"Yeah. We were," she says, running a hand through her blonde hair. 
"Taylor," my dad looks at me. "This true?" 
I sigh as I pull my long auburn hair to one side, "Yeah, it is." 
My dad slams a fist on the steering wheel, "God, that bastard." 

Two months before Rebecca's disappearance:

"So, guess what's coming up?" Rebecca asked me. 

"I dunno. What?" I grinned, totally playing with her. 

"My birthday!" she squealed. "I'm finally gonna be eighteen!" 
"Yep," I grin. Rebecca was the youngest of her, Adley, and I ."You excited?" 
"Very!" Rebecca was being her usual goofball. 

"I'm planning something for your birthday, by the way," I nonchalantly braided my hair.

"YOU ARE!?" she squeals. "Can you tell me what it is?"

"No," I tell her.

"Why?" she whines like a five year old.

"Because then it would ruin the surprise," I say gently.

"Ooh! I love surprises!" Rebecca giggles.

"What are you? Five?" I retort.

"Yes, yes I am," she laughs.

"Seems like it," I laugh too. I honestly think that was the last time I genuinely laughed.

"Hey is mom helping with the planning?" she asks.
"What do you think?" I shake my head.
"I think yes," she said proudly.

"Then you would be correct. What would you like your surprise to be?" I jokingly ask.

"A teddy bear," she grins. Then we burst out laughing.

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Rebecca's party was amazing and she loved it. The grin never came off her face. I knew she wished that Adley could be there, and honestly? I did too,  but we had so much fun anyway. Besides,  we had a picture of her up, so it was like she was there.