Chapter 7
Alisyn tightened the blanket scarf around her shoulders as she leaned against the apple tree in the Rockford's front yard. It was a perfect fall evening with the sweet smell of fallen leaves in the air. A chilly breeze rustled the branches overhead while squirrels chased each other around the trunk of a nearby tree. The partly-cloudy sky allowed a sliver of the moon to cast a light glow on everything.
Pookie, who sat next to her, rested her head on Alisyn's lap and whined.
"I know the feeling." Alisyn sighed and rubbed the top of Pookie's head.
This was the time of year her mom had loved most—she would bake pumpkin pies and decorate the house for Halloween. The Bennetts and a family down the street always competed for the best decorations on the block, upping the game each year. It had been so much fun that Alisyn and Mom would plan for it year-round, picking up items at garage sales and clearance racks.
Her heart constricted and tears stung her eyes. Would it ever get easier? Every October, she was once again hit with the harsh reality that she would never see her parents again. Compounding the pain was that she'd lost tangible memories. The fire had not only consumed her parents in their sleep. It had also claimed everything else, including the photos and other sentimental items. The only things left were what had been in her dorm room at the time, and that hadn't been much. She'd left just about everything other than necessities at home with her parents, who she visited almost weekly—far more often than anyone she went to school with saw their families.
Almost as if sensing her pain, Pookie licked Alisyn's hand. A tear escaped down her face. She wiped it, and just as she did, a car pulled into the driveway. She gave it a double-take, surprised they would be back so soon. The motion-sensor lights over the garage turned on, revealing Shane's sporty Subaru. Alisyn remained nestled against the apple tree—nobody other than the cockapoo ever noticed her when she sat there in the evenings to think about her parents.
Shane's door opened and closed. He hurried to the walkway, pausing as he glanced over the yard.
Alisyn held perfectly still. Please don't notice me.
Instead of walking to the house, he crossed the yard.
She wiped her eyes and tried to stop crying, but the tears wouldn't stop.
Shane stopped about a foot away. "What are you doing out here?"
"Sometimes I come out here to think." Her voice cracked. "Is dinner over already?"
"It is for me." He sat next to her and concern washed over his face. "Are you okay?"
Alisyn sniffled and wiped her eyes. "Yeah. Just thinking."
"About your parents?"
She nodded.
"You should've been there tonight."
"At dinner?"
"Yes. The kids talked about you more than anything else."
"They did?" Her heart warmed at the thought.
Shane nodded. "They seem a lot closer to you than Dad and Carrie."
"Thanks." Even though it wasn't surprising, it was nice to hear him say it.
"Oh, and…" His voice trailed off.
"Yeah?"
"I don't suppose you want to go to the party you're spending so much time planning?"
Alisyn tilted her head, not sure what he was getting at.
The corners of his mouth twitched. "I kind of told them you were going."
"You did?"
"As my date. If you don't want to, that's fine. I didn't exactly ask you first."
Her heart thundered against her chest as she stared into his eyes in the moonlight. She'd only just met him and she hadn't gone on a date in years, but she wanted to say yes. She just couldn't get her mouth to cooperate.
"Let me ask you properly." He took her hand in his, tipped an imaginary hat, and spoke in an overdone but adorable fake British accent. "Alisyn, will you do me the honor of going to the dance with me? It would be a real pleasure."
She laughed. "How could I say no to that?"
"Perfect. I—"
Two cars pulled into the driveway. First, Carrie's and then Peter's.
Alisyn scrambled to her feet. "I don't feel like getting chewed out again. And since I couldn't reach the DJ, she's going to be furious." She scooped up Pookie, ran into the house and up to her room before Shane could respond. As soon as she threw herself onto the bed, voices drifted up from downstairs and then the kids thunder-stomped up the stairs.
She pulled herself off the bed and trudged into the hall to help them get ready for bed. Miles and Piper ran over to her, talking over each other excitedly. Alisyn put her hands on their shoulders and guided them to the kids' bathroom. "Tell me while you get ready." She glanced over her shoulder and told the older two to get themselves ready.
A full hour later, all four kids were in their beds sleeping. Alisyn dragged herself into her room and climbed into bed fully clothed, not caring about the makeup on her face. She couldn't keep her eyes open. But she did set her alarm extra-early and extra-loud. She didn't want to start another day oversleeping and wearing no makeup.