Chapter 8

When I lose my way and I forget my name, remind me who I am. In the mirror, all I see is who I don't want to be, remind me who I am.
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A couple hours later, Caleb and Mandy stood in the deeper water of the city pool, watching Amilee go off the diving board.

"She is like a fish." Caleb commented.

Mandy nodded as she used her hand to drop some water on Ethan's leg. "Yes, she does love to swim." She replied absentmindedly.

Caleb turned to them. "Are you going to be a good swimmer too Ethan?" He asked the little boy in Mandy's arms.

Ethan frowned, looking at his leg. "Mama!" He protested.

Mandy smiled. "Ok, I'll stop. Something tells me he won't be as much of a swimmer."

Caleb shrugged. "That's fine too. Why don't I take him so you can join Amilee." He suggested.

Mandy handed the little boy to him, then dove into the water.

Caleb turned to Ethan. "Don't worry little guy, I know how you feel. Swimming isn't my favorite sport either."

Than evening after dinner, Mandy set up a movie for the kids to watch, then joined Caleb in the office.

Caleb was typing on the keyboard of her laptop, and watching the screen intently.

Mandy pulled over another chair and sat down beside him. "Whatcha looking for?" She asked.

Caleb looked startled as he saw her, but brushed it off and turned back to the screen. "Looking up potential properties. What is our price range?"

Mandy shrugged. "I'm not sure. I'd rather buy something cheap and renovate it then something ready to go and more expensive."

Caleb nodded. "We can customize and personalize it too." He added, selecting an option on the website.

Mandy looked at the potential properties that came up. "There aren't very many, and there aren't any in Arizona." She stated.

Caleb sighed. "It couldn't be that easy. I'd suspect most of them are more expensive then these."

Mandy's eyes widened. "More expensive then these? Properties to renovate?"

"Most of them are probably pretty big." Caleb explained.

"But..." Mandy trailed off as she looked at the results on the screen. "I guess we never did say we wanted to stay in Arizona."

"It's not like we have any ties." Caleb agreed.

Mandy sighed and leaned back in her chair as Caleb typed away.

In the family room, Amilee was ignoring the movie Mandy had put on. "Ethan. You're suppose to put it like this!" She said, grabbing the building block from his hand.

Ethan fell down. "No." He replied stubbornly as he stood up again.

Amilee put the block on her tower, and Ethan tried to grab it. In doing so, the tower started to tip.

"Ethan!" Amilee glared at him as the tower hit the ground. "You're mean." She stated, sulking.

Ethan held onto his block and watched her.

Amilee spun around and jumped onto the couch.

Ethan looked alarmed. "No!" He yelled.

Mandy walked into the room. "What-" She looked at Amilee. "Amilee Rose you are not allowed to jump on the couch and you know it." She scolded her.

Amilee jumped off the couch. "Ethan knocked down my tower." She said accusingly.

Mandy sighed and looked over at Ethan. "Sweetheart, he wanted to help."

Amilee grabbed her blocks and put them on the couch. "He isn't allowed to." She announced.

Mandy shook her head, then picked up Ethan. "If you like your blocks, you can stay here and play with them by yourself." She told her, then left the room with Ethan in tow.

Amilee grinned triumphantly, but after playing with her blocks for a couple minutes, she was bored. And she was sorta lonely.

"Mommy!" She called.

Mandy walked into the room with Ethan on her hip. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry for not sharing my blocks and not playing with Ethan." Amilee apologized.

Mandy smiled and sat down beside her. "Thank you for apologizing. Ethan likes to play with you, and he thinks your toys are cool."

Amilee eyed her brother skeptically.

Ethan giggled. "Ami!" He squealed.

In spite of herself, Amilee smiled. "Ok." She agreed reluctantly. "He can play with me."

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