Opening the door, she couldn’t hear anything. Not even the TV. She walked in calling out “Hi,” but there was no answer. She peered into the living room. Her dad was just sitting there. Staring at nothing. Where had the man who had sat beside her that night at the river gone? The fight to get back to normal hadn’t lasted long.

“Dad? You alright? Where’s Mom?”

“She went to bed. She got upset. I didn’t mean to upset her.”

Ashley crouched down beside her dad’s chair. “I’m sure you didn’t. What did you say?”

“I told her we should look at getting a smaller place. I didn’t want to talk about our financial problems but, well…”

Oh no, why hadn’t he waited until she was home too. Her dad meant well but sometimes he could be too blunt. “She didn’t take the news well?”

“She told me she was never leaving this house. It had all her memories of Kayleigh. Ashley, you should have seen the look on her face. It was like that first night, when the policeman came.” Her dad swallowed hard. “I feel so useless. I can’t do anything to help her.”

“That’s not true, Dad. You and mom are doing great. It’s just this time of year. It brings everything back. I will just go up and check on Mom, okay?” She didn’t wait for an answer but ran up the stairs. Knocking she pushed the door open catching her mom unawares. She was staring at a picture of Kayleigh.

“She always had a smile on her face. That’s what I remember most.”

“She did Ashley. She adored you. Her big sister. She wanted to do everything you did and more.”

Ashley knew Kayleigh had experimented more than she ever had, with boys, dressing up, going out, drinking – not to mention the drugs but now was not the time to tell her mom. Let her have her memories of her angelic little girl.

“I loved her too mom. I miss her every day.”

Her mom looked at her as if seeing her for the first time.

“I guess you do. The two of you were like twins, never saw one without the other. People used to tell me I was so lucky to have such close girls. Most siblings fight like anything. But you and Kayleigh, you didn’t.”

“We did sometimes. Do you remember that time with the pillows? You went nuts because we got feathers everywhere.”

“Yes, I had just painted and they stuck to the walls.”

Her mom laughed and cried. Ashley moved closer to her and sensing no resistance, she put her arm around her mom and hugged her close. Her mom didn’t exactly hug her but at least she didn’t push her away.

“Would you like me to call Father Michael? He could come and have a chat with you?”

“It’s a miracle I need not a priest. Did your father tell you what he has planned? I can’t believe he expects me to give up my home. After everything else.”

“Dad doesn’t want to move, Mom.”

“He does. You should have heard him talking about those new homes closer to town. You would think he was a real estate agent.”

“Mom, he doesn’t. He can’t bear to let this place go but he might not have a choice.”

“What?” Her mom pulled back. “Ashley Margaret Baker, you tell me this second what you know about this.”

Ashley wanted to run and keep running until she was back on the ranch. But instead she faced her mom, looked her in the eye and said, “Dad doesn’t know how to pay off his debts. He didn’t want to tell you as he was worried you would be upset.”

“Upset!” her mom screeched before she threw back the covers. “We can’t lose this place. It’s our home. The only one Kayleigh ever had. I will not let that happen.”

Ashley couldn’t reply. She was too stunned. Maybe they should have told Mom sooner.

“We have to get the bank to send someone to talk to us. They can help. We have held our accounts with them for years. They know us. They won’t make us leave this house regardless of what your dad thinks.”

Ashley was thrilled to see her mom fighting back but she didn’t want her going downstairs and making her dad feel worse than he did. Nobody needed to be told they made a mess of things.

“Mom, go easy on Dad please. He thinks he has let you down.”

“Why? It wasn’t his fault. None of this was. He wasn’t the one that invited that horrible boy to our home and introduced him to Kayleigh.”

Ashley pulled back, the pain in her heart too much to bear. There it was again. The insinuation she was to blame for her sister’s death.

She stood up and moved to the door.

“Ashley wait, I didn’t mean it like that. I …”

“We both know what you meant, Mom. I promised Dad a hot drink. Could you make it for him please? I think I will go straight to bed.” She walked out of the room determined not to show her mom how deeply she was hurt.