Chapter 1: Ghost of the Past (Tara)

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Okay.

Deep breath.

So maybe it's a little lame that I'm spending Easter break in a tiny town like Heart's Edge instead of going somewhere cool with my friends or just, you know, hanging out.

Like, sitting on the sidewalk in the hot spring sun and drinking pop and talking about not wanting to go back to school. Pretending we're too old to care about Easter candy but secretly hoping our parents will have a basket waiting for us that Sunday.

Wondering if Amber's mom will let us splash around in her swimming pool because it's hot.

Ignoring the homework assignments we were given to work on, too, because for real?

It's not really a break if you have to do schoolwork anyway.

Which is why my friends think I'm crazy. I gave that up to be here.

Instead of just chilling at Amber's and mayyybe hoping she'll invite Jeremy Cant from the seventh grade over to swim because I think he's cute...

I'm in this weird little mountain town wrapped in forests in Nowhere, Montana.

Working – believe it or not – on my semester English project and visiting my Auntie Hay and her bearded beast of a boyfriend.

Well, technically he's her husband, but I'm still getting used to big, tall, grumpy Warren from next door being my uncle now. Uncle War.

Seems like the wedding was just yesterday.

Besides, I really needed to get away from my parents, okay?

They've been divorced for what seems like forever. And it's weird because we all still live together; we're still Mom and Dad and Tara, and it's like nothing has changed and everything, too.

I guess I'm okay. They're nice to me still, and even each other, but yeah. It's just too weird.

It's easier to be around my aunt.

Especially when she's running away from me, pretending to be scared while I chase her with my fingers wiggling and shout, "Too slow! Tickle monster's gonna get your baby now, Auntie Hay!"

"Noooooo!" She breaks into a laugh, waddling across the living room of her Charming Inn home.

She can't really run when she's all preggers like this. Auntie Hay's barely taller than me, and her belly's gotten way big.

Way way big, almost like there's three babies in there or something. But she's so, so stubborn and won't hold still.

Not even when Uncle War growls at her, and he's always growling about something.

It's funny. He's like a big stuffy grumpy bear, but the kind you're amazed to have on your side.

I think I'm kinda glad he's family now.

From the kitchen, Ms. Wilma calls, "Careful, darling, don't overexert yourself."

"No fussing!" Auntie Hay yells back, slowing, wheezing, her cheeks red and her green eyes bright with laughter.

Her hair is a clipped-up mess in dark brown, and she brushes it back from her face and grins at me wickedly. She's a little sweaty, beads of it glistening on her forehead in the gold and orange light from the fireplace. "Trust me, I need the exercise, or else my butt's going to mold to the damned bed, and Tara's helping me work out."

"Swear jar," I remind her and wiggle my fingers, creeping closer. "The tickle monster says you have to put a quarter in the swear jar!"

"Hey!" She dances out of my way, laughing breathlessly. "Since when does the tickle monster care about my potty mouth? That sounds more like you, kit."

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