Four Elements Book 3 - Sacrifice

Part 57

"You sure you have the snacks we prepared for you?"

"Yes, Mom, you asked me three times. And no offense, but Dad them, not you."

"What about that first aid kit?"

"In my suitcase," Andie replied.

"Okay, well if you find you forgot something you ca-"

"I can call you, text you, email you, and you'll send it over," Andie interrupted with a grin. "I know, Mom. We'll be fine, don't worry."

The day had finally come. Bane and Andie were heading off to college in New York. Isabelle, Jessica and Emily would be getting ready to leave a couple days later, so they'd all gathered outside the Galestone house, along with Robert, Andie's parents and Hannah. Even Zack was there. He and Isabelle hadn't spoken much about his meeting his biological parents, but he seemed happy. Bane and Andie were packing up her car, which was bigger (and not shared with her parents the way Bane shared his with Robert). Everyone was pitching in, the bright sun adding to the cheerful atmosphere.

"Oh, you're not forgetting Mr. Fluff, I hope?" Hank teased.

"Dad!" Andie exclaimed, her face turning bright red.

Bane didn't even try to suppress his mirth.

"Who's Mr. Fluff?" he asked.

"My stuffed bunny. From when I was four!" she added in a louder voice as Hank went back inside chuckling.

Andie rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about him," Bane said, smiling.

"You had better not," she grinned, "or I will have to kill you."

"In that case, my lips are sealed," he grinned back.

She laughed, which felt nice. She wouldn't have admitted to it, but she was feeling a little nervous about leaving. She knew every child had to leave the nest someday, but was starting to realize that when you actually did, it was actually kind of scary.

Eventually, as the last bags were loaded, the reality of the separation crept into them all. Every bag was loaded with memories. The suitcases reminded her of the vacation trips they'd been on, the books of her parents reading to her as a child. That old lamp with a chip from when she'd almost pulled it onto her head until her father had caught it and knocked it away, breaking a piece off. The pictures of her and her parents over the years, stacked neatly in a box. Her guitar, which she'd had for years. So many memories. Bane had plenty of his own, she was sure, but she shared only a few. She was intent, however, on changing that.

"Well... that's the last of it," Robert said.

Andie's chest tightened as she realized the time had really come for goodbyes. She decided to start with Robert. She certainly liked him, but she was reasonably confident she would000n't be reduced to a bumbling, snotting mess right from the start with him.

"Thanks for your help, Robert," she said as she put her arms around him.

"Ah, you're welcome kid," he smiled.

"And thank you for everything."

"I could say the same," he said. "You made Bane happier than I ever thought he could be after losing his mother..."

He cleared his throat.

"We'll see you soon," she promised.

Bane was just shaking hands with her father. Andie turned to her mother and hugged her tight. She may not have always agreed with Lauren about everything, but she couldn't imagine not having her in her life.