Epilogue

I convinced Mom and Dad to drive all the way down to the bustling city by the bay. I was practically bouncing in my seat the entire way. Mom smiled and pointed out GPS directions to my dad, even though the woman trapped inside the machine was saying them. Dad glanced in his mirror ever so often to look at me. He would divert his gaze back to the road whenever we made eye contact. Stella was bobbing her head and quietly singing the lyrics to whatever songs she had in her iPod. Leo was tapping is DS screen furiously, playing the latest game they had for it.

I talked them into letting Mason stay with us until he could support himself properly. They felt like they owed him for getting me home safely or something like that. I didn’t really pay attention to the why. I sort of tuned out when they agreed.

Once we got to an area that I was more familiar with, I punched in the name of a Chinese restaurant I remembered passing every day. I then directed them to the little alleyway leading to the homeless community where I spent most of the duration of my day. They were a bit reluctant to let me go in alone, but I assured them that I knew this territory. Dad offered to come, but I sensed that he was shaking in his toes. He’s not exactly a protector as much as a provider.

I bounced into the clearing, my held head high and an unnaturally wide smile on my face. My eyes scanned it, feeling the nostalgia sink in. Once I saw our box, my pace quickened. I was hoping that Mason decided to be a lazy bum—see what I did there?—today, instead of going out to do odd jobs.

I saw a tuft of dark brown hair sticking out. “Mason!” I screamed, putting one foot in front of the other, trying not to trip. I just couldn’t get there fast enough.

His head popped out; a cute, but confused looking crossing his face. He looked around a bit before settling in my direction. Once his eyes landed on me, he perked up a bit. He tumbled out of the box, tipping it over, and started sprinting towards me. His arms were outstretched. I ran into them, expecting to be twirled around. I wasn’t let down. I giggled, draping my arms around him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his silver eyes flickering across my face.

“I’m here for you, Mason.”

“What about your family?”

“They’re waiting out there.”

“I don’t want to keep them waiting.”

“Shut up, Mason. I came to bring you home with me.”

“I…I can’t go with you, Soph.”

“Why not?” I demanded.

“Look at me. Look at you. We’re from two completely different worlds.”

“I like different.”

“I thought I told you to go be happy with someone who at least can buy you something from the McDonald’s dollar menu.”

“I don’t even like McDonald’s. But I like you!”

“Sophie…”

“Look, you said you wanted a family, right?”

“Yes…?”

“I’ll be your family.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Why not? Why can’t it be that simple?”

“Because it just isn’t!”

“Do you love me?”

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation.

“Then it is that simple. Home is where the heart is. As long as your heart’s with me, you’re never homeless. Mason, I’ll be your home.”

He was silent, but the look in his eyes told me anything but. “What are you trying to say?”

“My family already agreed to take you in. So what do you say? Shall we get out of this dump?”

“You’re sure that you want me?”

I weaved through the crowd of people, nervous to introduce him to my family. They were taken aback when they first saw him, but showed him nothing but kindness. The first words that were out of his mouth were, “Nice to meet you. I’m Mason.”

He was planning on sticking around.

So I guess the Castaneda’s did have a dirty family secret. Literally.