IN THE FULL MOON

chapter 10 Rescued

I arrived home breathless, spaced out, and

chilled to the bone.

"There you are!" my mom said, relieved.

"Where have you been?"

I must have looked like a roughed-up snow

angel. If I'd been skiing, sledding, or

snowboarding - none of which my friends had

time for anymore, and Ivy never liked anyway - I

would have had layers of clothing, puffy gloves,

earmuffs, a knit hat, and a down-filled coat.

But this time I was caught in the snow by

accident and wasn't prepared for it.

"I've been worried sick," my mom said as I

unzipped my now-white hoodie. Flakes fell on our

tiled foyer. I shook the snow off my boots on an

inside mat, but I couldn't feel a thing - my legs

and toes were numb. Our dog, Champ, bounded

up to me and sniffed my pant legs.

"I called several times," my mom continued,

"but you didn't answer. I was just getting my

keys to come and look for you."

I was so happy to be home, I was

speechless. So much had just happened to me

since I left Ivy and Abby, I couldn't process

everything. All I knew was I was finally home.

My mom pulled off my gloves. "Your fingers

are frozen." She warmed them in her hands.

"I got caught in that snowstorm."

"I can see that. Are Ivy and Abby okay?"

I nodded. "I think they missed the storm."

"They weren't with you?" she asked,

surprised.

I leaned against the staircase railings and

my mom pulled off my boots. I was too tired to

hike the stairs to my room. Instead, I sat on them

and peeled off my jeans. My mom handed me

warm sweatpants and fuzzy slipper socks from

the laundry room. Champ licked my cold fingers.

I'd never been so happy to be home in all

my life. The smell of pasta wafting in from the

kitchen was the most pleasant scent I could have

imagined. It normally bothered me when my mom

fussed over me, but I was so fatigued and cold, I

welcomed her care.

I followed her into the family room. I plopped

down on a sofa and she covered me with a fleece

blanket, and Champ curled up at my feet.

My mom turned on our gas fireplace and I

gladly gazed at our family pictures displayed on