Mandy

Chapter 9

Hello my name is regret, I'm pretty sure we have met. Ev'ry single day of your life, I'm the whisper inside, that won't let you forget.
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It was two weeks later before Mandy and Caleb made any more plans for their future.

"Mandy, come here." Caleb called from the office.

Mandy set Amilee's bowl of oatmeal in front of her. "Eat this, and when your finished go brush your teeth." She instructed her.

Amilee nodded, and Mandy left the kitchen.

Caleb looked away from the laptop screen as she came into the office. "I found a really good property." He said.

Mandy frowned. "What makes this property, 'really good'?" She asked.

Caleb pointed to the screen. "It's a good price. The place is in good shape, and we wouldn't have to mess with any electrical or plumbing. The only problem is there isn't any furniture and some of the flooring needs to be replaced." He explained.

"The wallpaper looks dated." Mandy commented, pointing it out in one of the pictures.

Caleb shrugged. "Small things."

Mandy nodded, then sat down. "It does look like a good property. Where is it?"

"Ashvendale, Wisconsin." Caleb replied slowly.

Mandy was glad she was sitting down, because she was sure she would have collapsed otherwise. "Wisconsin?" She asked, her voice squeaky.

Caleb sighed. "Mandy, it's a place we could make home. We know tourist hotspots, and we know the climate."

She nodded slowly. "I'm not opposed to the idea...I just...we haven't been there for years."

Caleb took her hand and squeezed it. "Mandy, it's the best place we are going to have. You will be able to pick the furniture and room layouts."

Mandy nodded again.

Caleb shut off the laptop screen and closed it; then turned to his sister. "Mandy, do you remember when we graduated?" He asked.

Mandy grinned. "Yeah. You threw your diploma into the air and I ripped mine to pieces." She replied.

Caleb chuckled. "That's when you knew you wanted to stick with the others instead of join me."

Mandy narrowed her gaze. "What does that have to with the situation on hand?"

Caleb gestured to the laptop. "Give it two years Mandy. If it isn't for you, we will move back to Arizona and figure out something else."

Mandy sighed as she looked at the wall, where Caleb's framed diploma hung. "I guess." She replied unenthusiastically as she stood up.

Caleb jumped up and spun her around.