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The truck clanged shut.
Thankfully, every suitcase fit into it, without bursting open.
"That's it," Rain said, her voice calm. "Last one." Then she paused in front of her mother.
"Are you sure you will be fine?" Elizabeth asked. Worry slipped through her voice.
"If you think you can't handle it," she added. "your step father and I can stay. We'll go next year."
Quickly Rain cut in, "Of course not." She said lightly. "It's your anniversary, it will be fine."
"Yes, mom, listen to Rain." Zeb added. He tossed his backpack into the back seat.
"she's got everything under control. Right?" He turned his head toward her, as the others followed.
She gave a small, reassuring nod.
"See?" He moved behind her, resting his hands over her shoulders." Let's just hope the house isn't burnt down after a week." He grinned.
Rain gasped and shoved him away. "I was nine." She shot back. "You don't have to haunt me with that memory every day of my life."
"Come on, Zeb," Paul interrupted. His hands lightly rested on the armrest of his wheel chair. "Mistakes happen. At least, it wasn't as bad as flooding the house."
"Ok, in her defense that happened a year after she almost burnt down the house." Elizabeth added, "she was still a child."
'Exactly." Rain said, folding her arms "I'm almost nineteen, and I am old enough to make the right choices." She continued, a soft smile forming on her lips.
"It's only going to be a week. How hard can it be babysitting a twelve year old?"
Elizabeth didn't answer immediately.
A warm hand held the hem of her dress. Lily latched onto her mom's waist. Her lips curved into a smile, as her fingers brushed aside tiny strands of lily's brown hair.
"You'll be good, okay?" She said, her voice calm, but laced with mild sternness.
Lily didn't say a word, only nodded. She moved to her father, crouching slightly, leaning in for a hug.
"Okay little nugget." Paul said, giving her a pat at her back. "you behave, okay?"
"What about me?" Zeb called out. "No hugs?"
Immediately, she ran to him, a bright smile across her face.
With a quick embrace, they broke into their special hand shake. "Have fun at base." Lily said calmly.
"Yeah." Rain added. "And bring back a souvenir, maybe like a general's barge."
"Ha. Very funny." Zeb responded, juggling the keys in his hands. "Okay, time to go folks." He added, helping his father into the front seat, and folding the wheelchair in the back.
"Don't forget to call us if you need anything." Elizabeth rushed into the car as Zeb started the engine.
"I'm sure I won't need to." Rain smiled. "Bye mom. Bye Paul. Bye Zeb." She added, waving. As the car pulled away, disappearing into the distance.
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The sun had completely gone down, and the full moon shone bright in the night sky.
Rain brought out some sodas, chips and other snacks from the cabinet and fridge, then placed them over the kitchen counter.
"What else do we need?" She asked. Rifling through the other cabinets. "How about popcorn? What do you think?" Her gaze fell on Lily.
Lily remained still, her eyes glued to her phone. Her thoughts elsewhere.
"Is everything okay?" Rain asked, moving closer. Lily's head lifted, a smile etched on her lips.
"Nothing," placing her phone over the table "Popcorn sounds great." She said, "But I get to pick the movie."
Rain's lips curved. "Deal."
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the house, snapping their heads toward the second floor.
"What was that?" Lily whispered, her eyes wide.
Rain instinctively grabbed onto a frying pan. Her grip firm.
With a swift gesture she gave, Lily instantly moved behind her.
Slowly, they crept up the stairs, their eyes darting past each doorway.
The rooms were empty.
Only one room remained—Rain's.
As they approached, the sound grew louder.
Whatever had made it in, was certainly inside her room.
"Stay here," Rain said, leaving Lily in the hallway. She pushed open her half closed door.
Her grip tightened on the pan, until her knuckles ached.
Her eyes landed on the widely open window and the vase knocked over on her desk. Rain stepped closer, stretching her head out the window.
One of the cars parked in the driveway door, stood slightly open.
Rain frowned.
She didn't remember it being that way.
She swallowed, but her throat remained dry, carefully pulling the window shut.
"What was that?" Lily's voice echoed from the hallway.
"Nothing," Rain replied, straightening the vase. She turned around to leave, Suddenly...
A loud scream tore from her throat as she lifted the pan, ready to strike.
"It's me! It's me!" Nora yelled, stepping forward.
She lifted her empty hands, her eyes shut tight.
"What the heck, Nora!" Rain cursed, clutching her dark curls, trying to steady her pounding heart.
"You scared the shit out of me." Rain put down the frying pan, the metallic clang echoed through the warmly lit pink room.
"I scared you?" Nora asked, stunned. "You scared me!" Slumping onto the bed. She exhaled slowly.
"We have a door." Rain said, leaning against her desk.
"I know." Nora replied. A grin stretching across her lips.
"I thought using the window would be fun."
Rain stared at her in silence.
Disbelief flickered across her face, as she released a scoff.
Rain's head snapped to the creaking sound of the wooden floor, as Lily walked into the room, trying to wear a warm smile "Hi, Nora." She waved.
"Hi, how are you?" Nora asked. Her expression was like that of a child who had just seen a new toy.
Lily's lips parted to respond but, before a word came out Nora asked more questions.
"You must be excited right, starting Junior high?"
"Well…."
"Nora!" Rain snapped. "Stop trying to drown her in questions."
Nora lifted her hands in surrender. "Sorry."
Rain's focus shifted to her sister. "Go to your room." She said, "I will be with you in a minute."
Lily hesitated. Then nodded, before she left for her room. Slightly closing the door behind her.
For a while, there was silence.
"Now tell me?" Rain asked. Her voice firm, and hands folded across her chest.
"What?" Nora asked without looking her way. Flipping through the books by her bed.
She scanned through the pages and chuckled. "Who the hell still reads poetry?"
"I do." Rain snatched the book from her hands and placed them in her drawer.
"Tell me," Rain repeated. "Why are you here?"