Boundless

Chapter 21

The next morning I woke up in my own bed. Immediately I sprung up and ran downstairs.

“Rebecca!” My mother rushed over and wrapped her arms around me. “You’re home so soon!”

“I got homesick.”

She hugged me again. “Jenny will be so happy to see that you’re back.”

“I’ll take her her tray,” I offered.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Has she already eaten?”

“Rebecca, Jenny isn’t here.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s out on a walk.”

“A walk?” My sister? Out of the house? Walking?

“Yes, with Charlie Wallis.”

“The sheriff’s son?

“They’ve been spending quite a lot of time together since you’ve been gone.”

“Oh.”

Disappointed, I went to help my mother put breakfast on the table.

I was alphabetizing my father’s book collection when I heard the front door squeak open followed by the sound of my sister’s voice. The book I was holding hit the ground with a smack.

Jenny’s surprise at my entrance quickly turned to elation. “Rebecca!” She ran towards me faster than

I’d seen her move in months and wrapped her arms around me. “You didn’t tell me that you’d be back so soon! You must tell me everything!”

I held her out at arm’s length so I could get a better look at her transformation. It was amazing. The pink was slowly returning to her skin and her eyes looked bright and healthy.

Jenny turned and smiled at Charlie, who was hovering somewhere on the other side of the room.

“Charlie has been absolutely wonderful to me while you were gone.” She then turned to me and said in a quieter voice. “As if he weren’t absolutely wonderful, anyway.”

I looked up in time to see Charlie blush. It was obvious that my sister had him on a string.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Jenny,” he said.

“Same time!” She enthused followed him to the door. After he left, she came and sat in the chair next to me. “Isn’t Charlie something?” Her eyes took on a look that could only be described as love struck.

“You seem to have gotten by without me.”

“Only just,” she said just before hugging me again. It was good to be home.