The Way We Were

The Way We Don't Come Home

Maddie came into Riley's room. "Hi, Marcy!"

"Mad!" Marcy was glad to see her little sister as she changed her (for the moment) youngest. "How did you get here?"

Maddie came up to the changing table. "Karen brought me. She's downstairs with Nan. The twins are making them pay attention to them."

"You're not paying attention to my babies?!" Marcy pinched her chin.

Maddie giggled. "I want you to pay attention to me!"

Marcy kissed her cheek. "I'll always pay attention to you. So what do you want?"

"I want you to take me with you when you go to AppleTown for Halloween this weekend."

"Okay." Marcy didn't mind.

"And I wanted to tell you about a boy at school."

"Really?" Marcy loved that Maddie was at this age. "Who is he? What's his name? How old is he? Is he cute?"

"A boy in my math class, Tomas, 12 and yes!"

Marcy giggled. "What's he look like?"

Maddie frowned. "Like you."

Marcy was caught off guard. "What?!"

"He's got dark skin for a white guy and he's got black hair and green eyes. He's Greek."

Marcy hugged her little sister to her side. "My baby's dating one of my people!"

Maddie laughed. "We're not dating yet! Nan says I should be honest with him but Sarah says I should trap him."

"Girl, don't you listen to that imp! Keep your legs closed unless you want to be like me."

"I do want to be like you." Maddie admitted.

Marcy almost had a heart-attack.

"Not the pregnant at twelve part." Maddie rolled her eyes. "But you're my big sister. I want to be like all of you."

Marcy sniffled. "Aww!"

Maddie hugged her.

"I'll help you catch that boy."

Maddie wiggled happily. "Yes!"

W.W.W.

Judy paled. "What do you mean you're not coming home?!"

Quinn sighed. "There's just too much going on. We can't make it."

"But you haven't missed Halloween since you were two!"

"Mom! We're sorry but we can come home for Thanksgiving."

"When is that?!"

Quinn was silent for a while. "Um... the last week in November."

"But then we work!"

"We'll be home."

"What about for Christmas decorating and family pictures?!"

"We'll be home for that. I promise. But I have to go. My class starts soon. Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Judy hung up.

"They're not coming home?!" Jeanette was distraught.

Michael didn't like this. "This isn't good."

Marcus shook his head. "It is not."