Mandy

Chapter 43

I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground
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When Mandy woke up the next morning, she had to think about where she was before she remembered the new room.

She slipped out of her bed carefully, trying not to awaken Amilee; who had the bunk on top of her.

When Mandy walked into the kitchen a half hour later, she was surprised to see Sarah was already there.

"Good morning." She greeted the girl.

Sarah grinned and hugged her. "Good morning! Did you hear about the review?"

Mandy frowned as she turned on the coffee maker. "Review?"

   Sarah walked out to the front desk. "Come see." She called.

   Mandy pushed the button to make hot water dispense, then followed Sarah.

   "Like a snow globe." She started reading, then frowned. "Liz's Inn is the kind of place you'd expect to see in a snow globe. Warm and inviting, and the rooms are cozy. The mattress was soft and I slept well. I ate both breakfast and dinner at the inn, and both meals tasted like my mom's cooking. I'll defiantly stay here again if I'm in the area."

Mandy grinned as she hugged Sarah. "This person liked our little inn."

"Our first review and it's four stars!" Sarah replied as she hugged Mandy back.

"What's going on?" Caleb asked as he walked downstairs, a very sleepy Ethan on his hip.

"We got our first review!" Sarah exclaimed.

"It's four stars Caleb." Mandy added.

Caleb grinned. "Did you hear that Ethan? Maybe your auntie actually had a good idea!"

"Caleb!" Mandy exclaimed.

"What? She was the one who wanted you to wait to get married." He reminded her.

Mandy glared at him as she took her son. "Come on Ethan, I'll get you some juice and you can help me make breakfast."

   Caleb grinned as he watched them both walk off.

   A couple hours later, Caleb and Mandy were both busy in the kitchen, and Ethan was playing close by. Amilee was sitting at the table doing a lesson in her math book with a little help from her mom.

   "Caleb, did you hear that?" Mandy asked her brother.

   Caleb looked up from the dough he was kneading and turned on the faucet. "It sounded like a scream." He replied.

   Mandy grabbed a towel and wiped off her hands, then handed it to Caleb. "It wasn't Jason. But I didn't think anyone else was here."

   Caleb took the towel and dried off his hands. "Didn't the family coming tonight request an early check in?" He asked.

   Mandy nodded. "Yes. Ami, stay here and watch Ethan, ok?"

   "Ok Mommy." Amilee agreed.

   Mandy walked into the lobby, then backed up when she saw the people out there.

   "Ann? Ann." Caleb whispered, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.

   Mandy turned to him, and he took in her pale face, then frowned before peaking into the lobby.

   He turned back to her and hugged her tightly. "That's them, isn't it?" He asked.

   Mandy nodded slightly, her facial expression giving away that she was terrified.