Mandy

Chapter 17

What do you think about when you look at me? I know we're not the fairy tale you dreamed we'd be.
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Mandy opened the car door as soon as Caleb pulled into their large garage.

"Mandy, please carry something in." Caleb reminded her.

Mandy frowned at him and grabbed her purse, then, without looking at her brother, ran into the house.

Caleb sighed and put the keys into his pocket before getting out of the car. He opened the trunk and took out his and Mandy's suitcases, then closed the trunk. He picked the suitcases up and walked into the house, surprised he didn't hear Mandy and Samantha.

Mandy grinned as she sat down across from her friend in the study. "How was your time?" She asked.

Samantha laughed. "It was difficult. I certainly see how difficult it must have been for you to take care of them on your own." She replied.

Mandy shrugged. "I wasn't completely alone. You were always there to calm me down after I was close to losing it, and all those parenting books really came in handy."

Samantha smiled as she looked around the study, the large bookshelves proving Mandy's point. "Well, still. I think you did a pretty good job."

"I do too." Caleb inserted.

Both girls looked over at him, where he was leaning up against the doorframe.

"I was just going to tell you two that I'll take the couch in the basement tonight, so you can have the bedroom all to yourselves." He explained.

Mandy nodded. "Thanks Caleb."

He looked at her sternly. "I didn't offer to baby-sit tomorrow, so you two better at least get some sleep."

Samantha laughed. "Can do." She replied, to which Caleb shook his head and left the room, softly closing the door behind him.

"I'm a mother. I've pulled more all-nighters then I can count." Mandy said to Samantha.

She looked at her friend doubtfully. "We tried that once and you fell asleep before 11."

Mandy glared at her in mock anger. "I'll have you know I have a secret weapon."

Samantha raised her eyebrows. "Coffee?" She asked.

Mandy frowned. "Darn it. My secret was found out."

Samantha laughed again. "Mandy, you're hopeless. Face it, you never did secrets well. You always have to tell at least someone."

Mandy shrugged. "I've been able to keep a couple from the people I needed to." She replied softly.

Samantha studied her. "I'm still surprised."

Mandy shook her head as she stood up. "I don't want to think about that. Besides, Caleb is right, we probably should head to bed. You'll be here for a couple more days anyway."

Samantha grinned. "I didn't think you could pull an all nighter."

Mandy threw a pillow at her before running up the stairs to the bedroom.