Chapter 2

Mom woke us up bright and early the next day. I thought having grown up in the city, I would be used to the cold weather, but Crescent Valley was like being in a high pressure freezer. My toes practically froze to ice once they touched the bedroom floor. I dragged my feet to the restroom and soaked myself in  warm shower water.

I could hear my sibling struggling to get up as well. Their groans echoing down the hallways. Then I hear feet thumping across the hall, a door slam and the sound of water being thrown.

"ARGGGGGGG!!! WHAT THE F^%$#%!! MOMMM!!" Trent's scream shakes the entire house.

This is how our mornings usually begin. Happens almost every other day.

Charlotte made it her mission in life to wake Trent up by whatever means necessary. And from the sound of how he woke up, it  looks like she dumped cold ice water on his face. How she got up early to plan that, I have no idea...

After breaking up their dog fight, I herd my siblings downstairs. Mom told us last night that we would grab something outside for breakfast, so we didn't bother heading to the kitchen.

As we put on our shoes, Gran groggily climbs down the stairs and headed straight to the kitchen. Being half-asleep, she doesn't notice us and continues walking past us. The curlers on her head hung loose and bounced on every step. When she sit down by the dining table, that's when she notices us staring at her from the door.

"Where are all you going and how come I wasn't invited?"

She sees the beagle in front of her, grabs it. Her eyes search left and right for something and when she finds what she is looking for, she stands up from her seat and grabs the box of Coco Puffs cereal from the counter. She places that on the table then heads to the cabinet for a ceramic bowl and then to the fridge to grab a glass of milk and a can of Dr. Pepper.

My first thought was that Dr. Pepper wasn't a healthy breakfast choice and neither was the cereal. They were basically just sugar.

Right as she was about to open the box of cereal to pour into a bowl mom shows up and snatches the box and the can of soda from her hand.

"HEY" Gran yells.

"This is junk. you are eating junk and junk is what got you in the hospital in the first place. You are going to have another stroke if you don't healthy."

"I am healthy!" Gran argues. "My Dr. Pepper fix is self-care---SELF-LOVE!"

Mom opens her purse to take out her lipstick, ignoring Gran's outburst. She carefully applies the red stain while checking her compact mirror to making sure it's perfect. when she's done, she turns to Gran.

"I'd like to tour the kids around town and show them where their mom grew up. There's no need for you to go with us. I know this place very well. Stay home, sit still and don't do anything dangerous." She points her finger sharply at her.

"And if Danger is my middle name?" Gran challenges.

"Grace is your second name, but you've never been graceful."

Gran huffs and crosses her hands over her chest insulted.

Mom opens the coat closet, slipped on her thick wool jacket and takes the car keys of the key rack.

"I would appreciate it if you would let me spend some time with the kids. I was deprived of years with them because my selfish daughter doesn't bother to visit." Gran pointed her fork at mom and a piece of food flew out from her mouth.

"yikes." Trent mouthed, staring at both me and Charlotte who were watching the exchange in silence. Mom never liked talking  about Gran, so it's aways been a mystery to us why Gran was not part of our lives. It was really awkward being in the middle of their conversations when the atmosphere felt so hostile.

Mom rolled her eyes. "Eat with your mouth closed, mother." She avoided the topic.

"Ungrateful brat." I heard Gran mumble under her breath. "Who does she think changed her diapers?"

"Stay put. Mom says one more time to her before grabbing all of our jackets and hands them each to us.

Trent runs out the house first and calls, "shotgun". Charlotte groans in protest and runs after him. I follow behind them, before over hearing mom say, "Wyatt will be here in a few minutes. If you are not here when he arrives, I told him to call me."

"Are you my mother?"

"No. I'm your daughter. You're not young anymore mother, so stop being so dramatic and just listen for once." Mom unlocks the car using the car remote."If you promise to remain here and behave with Wyatt, I'll buy you a can of Molly's famous jam—if it's still there."

Gran's eyes widened in awe. It was like she had forgotten the fact that she was arguing with her daughter a few minutes earlier.

"It's still there and you better get me my favorite cherry jam!"

"Will do. Let's go kids." Mom says while softly mumbling, "Before your Gran sneaks into our trunk."

--

Trent got to sit up front. All he had to do was lick his palm and touch the door handle. Charlotte stomped her feet heading to the back seat glaring daggers at his backside until mom and I got in the car.

"Forty-five minutes just to drive down to town. Why does Gran want to stay up here?" Trent asks, while tuning the radio for something other than the weather, or news station.

"She's a stubborn woman." Mom says, as she pulls out the drive way and the car descends down a slope.

"How long has it been since you were here mom?" Charlotte asked.

"Too long. I was 17 when I left. Straight out of high school. And just because I was 17, doesn't mean any of you should be moving out too. This town may be small but it was overwhelming. I had no choice but to leave." She doesn't speak for a few seconds and then changes topic. "This place hasn't changed much. I noticed yesterday, as we were passing the shops. Nothing has changed since I left. I wonder if some of my old friends or classmates are still around. I would hope they left this place too."

"Where are we going first." I ask excitedly. I really wanted to explore.

Out the window I see some boys about Trent's age walking up the street. They looked like they had gone for a morning walk, but why were they dressed in short sleeves and jeans? We were in layers of clothes under a puffy thick jacket. Weren't they cold?

They were perspiring through their shirt and the fabric was sticking to their skin. For how young they were, they looked really big for their age. Not overweight, but muscular. All of them seemed to be in the process of extensive conditioning.

Where the students in this town mostly athletic geeks?

I felt like such a creeper intensely observing these boys, but it was honestly curious. For a rich town, they should be able to afford proper workout clothes.

Mom made a turn and soon we were greeted with a series of small shops. I watched people greeting each other and sharing laughs. Some teens were sitting around some tables at what looked to be a coffee shop. Some were wearing thick clothes, others were not...how strange. The community was so much different than life back home in the west coast. Again this is a small town. Houses were probably far apart from each other because people got little privacy around here.

"There it is!" Mom made a right turn and entered a parking lot. She parked in front of a shop called Molly's Special Jams. "Your Gran loves buying jam here. Her favorite is the cherries and strawberry flavors. I better buy it before I forget, or she will have mule if I don't. You guys can wait outside if you want, just don't go far."

Mom parked the car and left me the extra key. She got out and went inside the shop.

Next to the Jam shop was Marty's Treasures. The name was printed on the display window.

"It's an antique store! Let's check it out sis." Charlotte squealed grabbing me by the arm and pulling me to the entrance.

"Only for five minutes. Mom will be back soon and won't know where we are."

"Yeah Yeah, okay" She says still pulling me out the car.

I turn to my brother before letting charlotte pull me any further. "Trent, stay put and tell mom we're in here in case she comes back."

"Whatever." Was his reply. He already had his phone out and his earbuds on.

"He's fine. Let's go!" Charlotte says.

Treasures, or what I called junk littered every corner of the shop. It was dark inside except for the natural light coming from the display window and the warm light coming from the single light bulb hanging from the back of the shop. There was one creepy dear head hanging on the ceiling and I swear it felt like it's fake eyes were watching our every move.

Charlotte was fascinated by the odd trinkets but I just wanted to leave. "Maybe we should go, mom might be—

"Welcome! My name is Marty and this is my shop, actually my dad's shop after my grandfather gave it to him. My grandfather's name was Marty...dad's was too, so technically I'm Marty the third—unless my great grandfather was a Marty too, which would make me a forth. Or fifth if grandpa's dad was...anyways, just call me Marty infinity. That's cooler."

This hyper-energetic man came out of no wear and we was standing inches from my sister and I with a huge joker like smile.

Charlotte and I both yelped at the same time, holding each others hands for support or maybe keeping each other standing.

"Uh...Hi Marty—

"Infinity." He added. "What can I do for you two little ladies? Anything in particular you would like me to help you find? Some people lose a lot of things and they usually find something here to replace it. By the way...I've never seen you around. Are you people passing by, or...? He paused. "Sorry I tend to talk a lot."

We notice.

"We were just looking."

"And did you find something?" Marty smiled over enthusiastically.

"No, not yet."

"How about this awesome hair-clip, it matches your eyes." What a creep.

My eyes are light hazel brown, I don't think a hair-clip like that would look good on me. Besides, I always leave my wavy hair down.

"Thanks, but no. Our mother is waiting outside. My sister and I have to go. We're sorry, but thank you for helping us!" I squeeze Charlotte's hand and pull her alongside me. He watched us leave his store and his eyes did not waver, nor did they blink.

"That was really weird and kinda scary." Charlotte whispered, as soon as we are outside.

I hope no one else in this town is that creepy. I hope we don't run into Marty Infinity again.

"Girl's where did you go?" Mom popped out from behind us with a paper bag in hand making us shriek. "Wow There! What's up with the two of you?"

"Mom don't do that!" Charlotte says placing her hand over her beating heart.

"We were checking out that shop, Marty's treasures." I say pointing at the store. I get a chill down in my spine thinking about Marty watching us through the window.

Mom looked the direction of the store and her eyes widen. "Urg...Let's go." She sounded a little anxious when she said it.

Mom practically speed walks back to the car. Charlotte and I follow behind her. Trent was still inside and still swiping cross his phone. He had lowered the seat and was laying on his back with his hands under the back of his head and his feet on the dashboard.

"Trent, this is not our car and although we rented it, It's disrespectful to put your feet up like that." His music was playing loudly that we could hear it humming past his ear buds.

"Hey!" Charlotte yanked his seatbelt from behind and he jolted up straight chocking with the belt strap pinning him by the neck.

"Charlotte, stop that!" Mom scolds her, while Trent continues to choke.

Eventually Charlotte did let go, with no remorse for attempting to kill our little brother.

"I cannot have a relaxed moment with you two kids." Mom sighed.

When all of us are in the car, I finally ask mom about her reaction to Marty's Shop. "Do you know that guy Marty, mom?"

Mom visibly cringes. "He was a strange kid. I didn't know him personally because I never bothered to know him but he was know to be a little strange. I avoided him growing up."

"Who's Marty?" Trent asks.

"Some dude who thinks he's Infinity" Charlotte tells him.

"Is he some sci-fi geek?"

Charlotte shrugs. "Yeah, like you."

Trent yangs the seat recliner and pushes the chair back making it land on Charlotte. Charlotte screams and mom stops the van.

Commence the arguing...

-------

After Trent gets his phone taken away, the day goes by a little more smoothly.

Mom continued touring us around the town. We had breakfast at a cute little cafe where the kids were earlier.  We took pictures at locations where mom used to hang out as a kid. Like the park, an old bowling lane, a movie theater, and a library. It was fun listening to mom reminisce about her childhood and all the fin things she did with her friends. It was odd to hear that mom used to have fun because never had she done anything other than work.

I rarely ever see her have fun. As a night-time nurse she works late at night and sleeps most of the day. It was great to have this time with our mom and get to know her a little bit more.

We didn't get out of the car again until we stopped at someone's house.

Of course it was equally as amazing and high-class looking as Gran's house.

Mom drove up to the gate and rolled down the window. "This is my friend Debbie's house, or it was. She was my best friend growing up. I didn't keep her phone number all these years. Hopefully this is where she still lives."

On the left side was a camera and underneath it was an intercom.

The thing started speaking. "Hello, may I ask why you have driven into our drive way?"

It was a man's voice.

Mom leaned closer to it. "My name is Tracey. I'm looking for a woman named Debbie. Is she around?"

"My wife is here." The man responded. "Let me get her. Please wait a moment, I'll be back shortly."

I could see mom's smile from the side window. If she was happy, I was happy. It's been a while since I've seen mom genuinely smile. She's been stressed out lately because of work and now, with Gran's health, she hasn't had a good days rest and it worries me. Hopefully seeing her friend will loosen her a little.

The gates suddenly open.

Mom drive in and parks the car behind a flashy red convertible. Charlotte eyes grow the size of saucers when she sees the vehicle and when we get out of the car, she hands me her phone to take a picture of her with it.

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Mom palms her face. "Please don't embarrass me in front of my friend."

I chuckle. "Don't worry mom. I'll watch them."

Trent crosses his arms over his chest. "I behave!"

"Pull your pants up, I can see your boxers." I point out.

He looks down and does see his pants sagging. "It's a look, okay?"

"Look what I can do!" Charlotte grabs the part of his boxers that's showing and yanks it up.

Trent's face twists into absolute horror and his face reddens. "SHIT!" He screams really loud just as someone opens the front door.

"Oh god, could this get any worse." Mom mutters and looks up to see who witnessed mom's embarrassment.

"Tracey!" A tall woman with platinum blond hair runs straight towards mom with arms wide open. "Oh-my-oh-my GOD, it's you! I didn't believe Robert when he told me—I thought he was kidding like he always is, but here you are and you look...older."

Mom burst out laughing. "Debbie, you look older too! Debs...it's been so long." Tears rim mom's eyes.Charlotte sends me a smile, seeing our mom beam in happiness.

"Are these your beautiful children?" She gasps and walks towards us. "They look so much like you!"

"My oldest daughter, Celeste: 19. My youngest daughter, Charlotte: 17 and my only son, Trent: 15."

Debbie holds her gaze on Trent for a few seconds more than me and Charlotte.

Was it just me who noticed that? Suddenly i feel a bit overprotective and stand in front of my little brother.

"Two years apart, each. You have been a busy!" Mom's friend giggles.

I almost chock on my spit. This conversation was starting to burn my ears.

"Cut it out Debbie." Mom mock punches her friend on the shoulder.

"I have two sons. One is out right now...at work." She tunes her voice down and covers her pause with a cough. "And the other is here lazing life away in his room doing god knows what. Kids these days, it's like they have something to hide."

"I know the feeling...I have three teenagers."Mom laughs.

"Hon." A man with a darker shade of blond hair wraps his arm around Debbie's waist.

Mom's mouth drops. "Robbie the Rocket. I would have never guessed."

A dimpled smile dorms on his face. "It's been years since I was called that. Not running track anymore, as you can see. After graduation I finished college in the east coast and when I got back, I made sure this woman wore my ring before anyone else could have her."

He kissed Debbie's head and mom smiled at the lovely couple with sadness in her eyes.

"Where's your husband, Trace? I'd like to see the man who won your stubborn heart."

Mom' smile depleted and Charlotte looked away. Out of all of us, my sister was the one that took dad's death the hardest.

"My Nicholas died a long time ago." The look on my mom's face made my chest hurt. Thinking about dad made me sad too.

Debbie sucked in a breath, while holding hand over her mouth, "Oh trace, I'm so sorry." The two engulfed each other in another hug. "Would you like to come inside and talk for a while? I'll introduce you and your kids to my youngest son Vincent."

Just as we were about to go inside, the garage door opens and a guy in a purple V-neck shirt walks out. He had his dad's hair color and athletic build. By the look of him, he was probably Charlotte's age or maybe one year older.

"Mom, I'm heading out to meet some friends." The guy who I now figured out was Debbie's son, Vincent, stopped in front of his red convertible.

"Vincent, will you say hello to my friend and her children before you go?"

Vincent didn't look very interested to meet his mother's friends, but when he turned, his body stiffened as his eyes landed on my sister. The funny thing was Charlotte was paralyzed too. But she is always paralyzed in front of a good looking boy.

"Vincent, hello?" Debbie waved a hand in front of her son.

Mom looked between the two star-crossed lovers and smiled. "Hi Vincent, my name is Tracy. You mom and I are friends—

"Correction. Best friends, girlfriends! We go way back; back when we were in diapers!" Debbie hooked an arm around mom's dragging her into the house.

Robert looked at his son. "Don't stay out too late."

Vincent shook his head. "I think my friends can survive a day without me." He gives a boyish smile straight at Charlotte and she blushes.

Oh boy...I already know Charlotte's going to have a hard time leaving this place.

A surprised look, a smile, then a slake of the head—Robert walked back into the house after telling us we are welcome to go inside and have a bite of refreshments.

"Hey, I'm Vincent, but you can call me Vince." He holds out his hand for Charlotte to take.

Trent surprises us all by cutting in and taking Trent's hand first. "I'm Trent and she's our older sister, Celeste." Trent looks over his shoulder and mumbles directly at me. "these two make me sick."

"Trent!" Charlotte growls at him for interrupting her moment with Vincent.

Trent speed walked into the house following mom and Debbie. I chuckle and walk behind him, leaving Vince and Charlotte to talk amoungst themselves. I think Charlotte would appreciate me for giving her space.

"My parents gave me this house before they decided to retire in that nursing home down the road." I hear Debbie say as Trent and I walk into the kitchen.

Their butler (yes they also have a butler) ushers us to the living room.

"I'm trying to convince my mom to at least consider doing that, maybe go to one closer to us in the west coast, but she won't leave the house." Mom said.

"You're not planning. On staying here?" There was a hint of disappointment in her tone.

"I don't think so. I have a job and my kids won't like leaving their schools. No one understand me more than you do, Debbie. You know why I left here." They both go quiet.

I catch Debbie's eye and she strides excitedly towards me, puts an arm around my shoulders and pulls me towards the sofa wear mom was currently sitting. Robert sits on the opposite side of the table across from mom and offers Trent a glass of juice. Trent politely declines and mentions how he hates sweets.

Robert just grins and if he already new the fact. Weird. But I don't think too much of it.

Meanwhile Vincent and Charlotte go off somewhere...

"Tracey, your daughters are quite the beautiful ladies! Especially your eldest! She has your thick beautiful long dark hair, tall and gorgeous. If you wouldn't mind, would you allow me to have her model my clothes."

She said what now?

"Huh?" I look at her in confusion and turn my eyes to mom for answers.

Mom laughs at my expression. "She's a fashion designer."

Oh.

"My sons hate wearing my designs. They don't like helping me out and I'm their mom!"

Robert shakes his head smiling. "It's because you showed their past girlfriends the pictures of them as infants wearing your girls baby clothes line."

"Big deal, they were just babies! And I needed models to advertise the line. My boys were adorable and sales boomed when the images went out!"

Trent frowns at that. "I would never be caught dead in girls clothes. Baby or not..."

"Where's Charlotte?" Mom asked.

"She's probably su—

I kicked Trent under the table and send him a death glare.

"She's talking with Vincent I think."

Robert smirks. "When you were a teen, your mom was often making guys falling on their knees."

Mom mock gasps. "Shut up Robbie!"

"Face it Trace, you were such a hottie back in the day." Debbie laughed. "Your mother was not only stubborn but she had a sneaky tongue. If you messed with her, she would be kicking your ass all the way to nowhere land."

This was something I didn't know about my own mother. She sounded like a younger Gran, I thought.

"Is there anything else you'd like to tell us mom? You are definitely not the woman we are learning about." I tease her. "What changed?"

Mom rolls her eyes, "I had kids."

We stayed for another few hours talking about mom and Debbie's childhood, until mom checked her watch and realized it was almost dinner time.

"We really have to go Debbie, my mom is probably wondering where we are."

"Diane, is such a hoot. Tell your mom I said hi and visit me whenever she can. We live in the same town, but she never talked to me since you left. But she's talked about a lot in town and I hear the gossip mill say how energetic and lively she is."

Debbie and Robert stand as soon as mom starts preparing to leave. Trent and I follow behind our mom.

"Please visit us at our home." Mom says hugging them both. "Celeste can you find your sister?"

Robert walks behind the sofa. "She's with Vincent and if I know my son, he probably took her to the theater room. I'll text him."

"I'll bet you twenty bucks they were already making out." Trent nudges me.

"No deal." There's no doubt my sister was already in the process of making Vincent fall for her. Charlotte tends to fall for guys fast and Vincent caught her sight like a bullet hitting bullseye.

"Please come over again! And Celeste, if you or your sister want some clothes, I'll give it to you for free! Consider it Mom's Best Friend discount."

"Thanks Debbie." I smile and she offers me a hug.

"Call my Auntie. I'm practically your mom's sister."

Charlotte appears out of nowhere with Vincent. The two have only known each other for a few hours and already they looked like they've dated for years. Vincent has his hand resting on the small of Charlotte's back. He seemed to keep a decent distance, but their body language says something. He looks at my sister as if a dying man starving for water and it make me a little cautions knowing they just met.

It made me want to pull her away from him.

Mom didn't mind though. I think the thought of Charlotte maybe dating her best friend's son wasn't a big deal to her.

"Drive home safely." Robert said as we got in the car.

They waved us goodbye until the gates closed. It never occurred to me before until now—the gate didn't have a white flag.

I don't know when I started this silly game of mine, but I've been counting the number of white flags I see. It reminds me of that car game I played as a kid. The color game. The player says, "I see something—" and the color, then the other players find the object with that color on the road.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and see a message.

It was from Charlotte.

I look at her and she mouths, "Read it".

Unlocking my screen, I read her test:

Vincent is so amazing. He was so kind and he such a gentlemen. I've never met a guy like him!

After reading, I looked at her. Just as I was about to say something, she puts her index finger on her lips and points at her cell, telling me that our conversation will be continued through text.

Me: Wasn't he a bit too forward. Maybe you should take things slow and get to know him a little more.

Her lips press and she types a help to my message furiously.

He really likes me...Like A LOT. She sends with a happy face emoji.

Not to break her happiness, I send: I can tell :)))

That small reply makes her burst into an excited squeal and she enthusiastically extends her legs accidentally kicking Trents chair.

It spooked mom and the car jolted. Trent was asleep when the car stopped, but now he was screaming curses and sporting a fresh bruise across his forehead.

"Charlotte, what the hell!" Trent snapped.

Mom calmly patted his arm. "Stop, no arguing in the car. Charlotte, don't ever scream in the car. You are lucky there is no one else in the road."

"Sorry mom."

We arrived home before seven in the evening. The gate opened without mom buzzing the doorbell.

"Looks like Gran is expecting us." Trent commented.

"She put the flag up!" Charlotte pointed at it.

It looked like it needed a good wash. There were stains on it.

"FINALLY!" Gran ran out the house with a piece of bread in one hand and a butter knife.

"Oh my god." Mom muttered under her breath.

"Doesn't she know, you're not supposed to run with sharp objects in your hand?" Trent shook his head.

"She really must love jam." I said and Charlotte chucked.

"Too bad, because she isn't getting all of it. Eating jam and bread at night for a person her age is bad. Her blood sugar will shoot up while sleeping and she could possibly go into a coma. I'm only giving her a teaspoon." Mom parked and rounded the car quickly so that Gran doesn't get the jam before she does.

"Damn you!" Gran shouts. "You can't deprive a woman of her pleasures!"

"I'm going in. I'm not going to hear any more of this" Trent groans.

He passes Wyatt as he goes in the house.

"I'm preparing the late dinner." Wyatt informs us and walks back into the house heading to his kitchen.

"Let's help Wyatt with dinner Charlotte."

"I don't know...watching mom and Gran wrestle out for the jam is kind of hilarious."

"Come on"

"Fine..."

Trent meets us by the door with a gleam in his eyes.

"I forgot something. Charlotte, did you and Vincent watch a movie together?"

"Yeah, we did. Why...?"

"You played tonsil hockey with him didn't you?" Trent grins devilishly.

Charlottes face turns bright red. "I DID NOT!"

He turns to me. "She obviously did." He extends his hand to me. "You owe me twenty bucks!"

I shake my head at him "I said I wasn't betting."