Spirit lead me where my trust is without boarders
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Mandy looked up as Caleb and another man entered the kitchen.

"Mandy, this is Jason. Jason, this is my sister, Mandy." Caleb introduced.

   Mandy smiled. "Nice to meet you."

"You as well." Jason replied, sounding stiff.

"Who are you?" Ethan asked.

"Ethan, be nice." Mandy reprimanded him. "And this is Jason. He is going to help out around here."

"I'm Amilee. Did you know today is Ethan's birthday?"

Jason looked uncomfortable. "No I didn't." He told Amilee.

"Ami, why don't you put your coloring things away." Mandy suggested.

"I'll go ahead and give Jason a tour of the inn if you want to go ahead and start dinner." Caleb said.

"Go ahead! Take Ethan with you, and Ami can help me out." Mandy replied as she stood up.

Caleb grinned. "Ethan, come on. Why don't you help me give Jason a tour."

"Sure!" Ethan replied as he stood up and took Caleb's hand.

Mandy smiled as Jason followed the other two out of the kitchen.

After dinner, Mandy announced she and Amilee had an errand to run, and that they would be back soon.

"Where are we going?" Amilee asked Mandy when she started the car.

"I'm not sure yet. Maybe the beach. Somewhere quiet." Mandy replied as she pulled out of the long driveway.

Amilee was quite the whole way to the beach. "I miss everyone." She whispered as she followed Mandy onto the sand.

Mandy sat down and sighed. "I do too." She whispered back, then opened her purse and slowly set a box down in-between the two of them.

Amilee traced the words engraved on top of the box. She couldn't read them, but she knew what they said. "Elizabeth Ann Alice Evans" She thought.

Mandy watched her. "Did you bring something to put in?" She asked.

Amilee pulled a bundle out of her pocket and handed it to Mandy.

Mandy opened the tissue paper surrounding the object to reveal a small puppy charm.

"I thought that Ellie Ann would be like you." Amilee whispered.

Mandy wiped away some of the tears that streamed down her cheeks as she hugged Amilee. "It's perfect." She whispered as she opened the box and set the charm inside.

Amilee closed the box softly, then studied it carefully.

Mandy's phone began to ring. "Hey Sam." Mandy whispered in greeting as she answered the call; then put it on speaker phone.

"Mandy." Samantha whispered.

"I'm here too." Amilee said softly.

"Hey Ami." Samantha replied. "How is your mommy?"

Amilee took the phone, then studied Mandy for a minute before answering Samantha. "She's crying. And she's been sad all day."

"I'm sorry honey." Samantha replied.

Amilee shrugged. "It's ok. Mommy can be sad if she wants."

"Mandy, did you tell Caleb?" Samantha asked softly.

"No." Mandy whispered as she used a tissue to wipe away her tears.

Samantha sighed. "Ann, he deserves to know." She reminded her gently.

"Sam, he hasn't even had time to grieve for our siblings. I can't just tell him that he lost a niece too."

"So Ethan won't ever know either? That isn't fair to him. She is a part of him. That's how twins work."

Mandy sighed. "I know. It's easier this way. And if I told Ethan, he might not like his birthday anymore."

   "Ann..." Samantha trailed off.

   Mandy looked at her watch. "We've got to go Sam. I told Caleb we would only be gone for a little while."

   "Ok. You get some sleep tonight, both of you." Samantha ordered.

   Amilee smiled. "Yes ma'm."

   Mandy shook her head. "Night Sam." She told her friend, then hung up the phone.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

More is reveled in the mystery of what makes Mandy tick.