The next morning, I climbed into bed with Mackenzie early, and we snuggled together for a while before it was time to get up. Hairdressers and makeup artists were coming to the house to prepare us for the big day. The ceremony was in a church, but the reception was outside, and Charity wanted to be sure our hair would be perfect for pictures. I knew that meant one thing: lots of hair spray.

I looked out the window, and saw the sun shining. The storm from the other day was long forgotten. But the drama in my life wasn’t, and neither were the broken pieces of my heart. But I tried to ignore that; I would have to go at it alone. Levi had made his choice, and I had made mine. I would be happy, regardless of what happened between us. Even though it hurt to breathe, I thought that time would make things easier for me. I told Mackenzie to wake up, but I gave her a few more minutes, and went downstairs to make myself some coffee. My dad was sitting at the kitchen table. I realized that we hadn't really spoken very much since my arrival, and that was probably partially my fault.

“Hi, Dad.”

He set down his paper, and held up his coffee mug to me. “Just made a fresh pot. You're welcome to it.”

“Hazelnut? My favorite.”

I filled up the mug, and sat down at the kitchen table across from him. He hadn't brought any of the furniture from the old house here, so we were sitting on barstools and at a modern table that didn't quite fit the rest of the house. “This table is weird. It doesn’t fit with the rest of the house,” I commented.

He laughed. “It's the one piece of furniture I got to pick out.”

I smiled at him. “I should've known. You always did like darker furniture. But, really, it's the only thing that you got to pick out?”

“Well this and all my office furniture. There is a Lazy Boy in there, but don’t tell Charity. Her designer wouldn't really like the faux leather.”

I nodded. “I bet she wouldn't.”

He looked around. “But I think this house has really come together. It feels like home.” He paused for a moment. “To me at least. I know that this will never be home to you and your sister.”

I sat down my mug. “That's okay though, Dad. It's not our home. It's yours, Charity’s, and the baby’s.” I put emphasis on the last word, and I watched as his face went pale.

“Charity told you, too?”

“Kenz spilled it to me.”

He shook his head. “I didn't think we were telling anyone until she was further along, and definitely not before the wedding. Her family is pretty religious.”

“Yeah, but Dad, she’s in her thirties, and you've been living together for like two years. They had to have known something was going on. I mean, really, who cares? We all make our own choices.”

I didn't know when I had suddenly become so nonchalant, but it was like it didn't matter to me that Charity was pregnant. I didn't feel replaced anymore; this wasn't my home. And Charity’s little bundle of joy would grow up here and live his or her life. And she would be my stepmother, and Dad would still be my dad. Things weren’t changing as much as I made them out to be, and yes, I had a bit of flair for the dramatic. He didn't say anything for a while, but took another sip from his hot coffee. I could see the steam still rising from the mug. Finally, he set it down, and held it between his hands. “You know, I never meant to hurt you girls, or your mother, either. And as much as she blames me for the divorce, she was ready to get out too.”

“I don't think she was. Mom didn't get out of bed for months after we moved to Florida. She mourned your marriage. She didn’t know what to do without you.”

The shock was written all over his face. “I didn't know. I thought she wanted out as much as I did.”

I shook my head. “No, I don't think she did. She's different now though, and, in a sense, maybe she is happier. She's definitely doing things I never thought she'd do. And I think that's good for her.” I didn't mention the fact that she might have a boyfriend. It wasn't my place.

He nodded. “Good for her. We both got a fresh start. I think Florida was good for all of you.”

“Yeah, we like it there. It's far from here, though.”

He picked up his newspaper again. “Sometimes, distance gives you the space you need from your problems.”

I sighed thinking about Japan, it was certainly going to give Levi and I space. “Yeah, I guess you're right.”

I grabbed my mug of coffee, and walked upstairs to wake Mackenzie. It only took another ten minutes before I wrangled her into the shower. It was steamy in our connecting bathroom, and she was blaring some Taylor Swift song from her phone. I had left mine on my side table; everybody knew about the wedding today, so nobody would call. And I would only use it to take pictures later.

“So, what do you think it be like when we go home?”

Mackenzie popped her head out from behind the shower curtain, her blonde hair dripping wet. “What do you mean?”

I leaned against the granite countertop. “About mom's boyfriend. I mean it's weird, isn't it?”

“Not really. People are allowed to move on, Lila.”

I knew that, all too well.