If you looked me right in the eye, would you see the pain deep inside... Would you take the time?
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   Mandy sat down on her bed as she watched Caleb pull the couch into a bed; as she did almost every night. "Anyone who saw this would think it strange." She commented.

   Caleb frowned as he grabbed the sheet. "How so?" He asked as he put the sheet on the mattress.

   Mandy threw him a pillow before replying. "We are sharing a bedroom."

   Caleb shrugged as he easily caught the pillow. "It's not like we haven't done it before."

   Mandy nodded as she smiled. "That wasn't even a room. It was literally a walk-in closet that we shared."

   Caleb grinned. "That apartment was actually a pretty good one."

   Mandy laughed. "For one person, it would have been a great place. For the five of us..." She trailed off.

   "It was a squeeze." Caleb finished for her. "At least the student housing wasn't as bad."

   Mandy blinked. "Caleb, it was terrible."

   He chuckled. "It isn't that unusual."

   Mandy watched him. "Is it really all that way?" She asked.

   Caleb shrugged. "More or less."

   Mandy sighed and rolled onto the bed. "Life is like...a run."

   Caleb raised an eyebrow. "A run?"

   "There is a marked path, but sometimes we jut off course." She explained.

   "Mandy, are you really ready for this?" Caleb asked her gently.

   Mandy felt tears slip down her cheeks. "I am, but every time I think about leaving this house..." She paused. "It's a memory. It keeps me feeling connected."

   Caleb nodded in understanding. "We don't have to sell it." He suggested.

   Mandy glanced at him. "Caleb..."

   Caleb walked over and lay down beside her, taking one of his hands in hers. "I've been over the figures Mandy.  Simple as it is, we are rich. We aren't millionaires, aren't even close, but we defiantly have a large nest egg."

   Mandy nodded. "We did do well." She whispered.

   Caleb nodded as he hugged her.

   The next morning, Mandy was already showered and getting the kids breakfast when Caleb walked into the kitchen.

   "Morning Caleb." She greeted him.

   Caleb sat down at the counter. "Morning Mandy."

   Mandy set a bowl in front of him. "Eat up, we have a big day today." She said.

   "You're telling me." Caleb responded before taking a bite.

   Mandy smiled as gave Amilee a bowl. "Ami, you're going to be good today, right?"

   Amilee looked at her innocently. "What do you mean?" She asked.

   Mandy shook her head as she watched Ethan pick up a piece of banana with his fingers.

   Caleb set his bowl on the counter by the sink. "When does the babysitter get here?" He asked.

   Mandy checked her watch. "Samantha will probably be here in ten minutes." She informed him.

   Caleb nodded. "I'll go clean up the bedroom quickly then." He said, then left the kitchen.

   "We get to see Samantha?" Amilee asked excitedly.

   Mandy laughed. "Yes, Daddy and I are going to be gone until tomorrow, so Samantha is coming to stay with you and Ethan."

   Amilee set her now empty bowl down on the counter beside Caleb's. "Is she leaving tomorrow?" She asked.

   "No, she will probably stay a couple days for a visit. I haven't seen her since..." Mandy trailed off.

   Amilee noted that and didn't finish her mommy's sentence. "Yay! Ethan, Samantha's coming!" She yelled as she ran over to their brother.

   Ethan looked at her blankly.

   "Samantha is Mommy's friend. They have been friends for a long time, since Mommy was thirteen, but they didn't meet until Mommy was eighteen. You met Samantha once, but you probably don't remember 'cause you were a baby." She explained.

   "Mama?" Ethan turned to his mom questingly, making Mandy laugh again.