We arrived in New Hampshire the next day. Norman had been with us, in his carrier, and when I tell you that the flight was challenging. I mean mentally!! That cat, he hated his box, he hated the blanket that wasn't heated, and he hated the air con. He smelt our meals, and protested in loud wails, they made me wish I'd been on that flight with a set of newborn twin baby's instead. The looks!! People weren't pleased, but try to sooth an overweight tabby in a small space, and get yourself bitten, no thanks. Luckily, I had remembered after the first two hours about the sedative that the vet had offered me, to make him calm in the air. It was like trying to tranquillise a whale with a dose fit for a hamster. He ate it with his little meal, but it took another hour to start working. And it barely did. That's three hours into the nine hour trip, three!!! With one stop in Newark, a three hour layover. Then thankfully it was only an hour and a half to Manchester.

I had already decided that when we finally went back home to Oregon (because I was being positive and manifesting it like Kate ordered me too) that I would only come back via camper. A long cross country drive, I know, but at least then Norman could live out his dreams of being back on the road again as a copilot, and I could be sane. I wouldn't ever take that dark lord on a flight again in my life. You live and you learn kids, you live and you learn. Deep breaths.

"So" Veda asked as we got into the rental car "Am I going straight to my Grammas or with you to Willa's"

I tucked Norman into the backseat, and got in beside her "I was thinking we could spend today together, and then I'll drop you tomorrow. Is that okay, or do you want me to drop you now?"

She sat her backpack on her lap and got out her cell "Tomorrow is cool" she said nonchalantly.

She was acting chill about it, but inside I bet she felt weird about us parting ways too, because we didn't know when it would be like this again. I had my first mediation with Charlie in a couple days, and I was hoping I could have Veda a couple days a week whilst this was as going on, perhaps weekends. Just to help her transition better.

We made our way across the city using the GPS, to Willa's street, it was leafy, and had large trees of different varieties lining it, all the way down to the cul de sac.

"Wow... it's nice" Veda noted, as we swung into the driveway. She pointed to the house next door "Jo told me that her Moms used to live in that one"

I looked across the yard to the house next door "Yeah, Willa mentioned that. I can't believe they had houses so close. I can imagine it though. I bet it was nice. You know what's weird" I told Veda.

She looked at me and widened her eyes "what" she asked.

I pointed at Willa's house with the gorgeous blue door "Wren was born in this house"

Veda looked back at it and screwed up her nose "eeew"

I rolled my eyes and laughed "It's not ewww... it's cute. I don't know, it kind of feels special, that we get to stay here. It means a lot to the family, so much so that they kept it"

"True" Veda said, texting again on her phone.

"Who is that" I asked. She hadn't been off of that phone all the way here.

"Jo" she revealed "She said school sucks without me. My empty desk made her sad this morning" she said, sticking out her bottom lip.

"I bet" I returned "can I ask... before we get out"

Veda looked up from her phone "mmm"

"Is Josephine okay"

Vedas dark brows came together, in concern. She looked back to the text that came in. "She hasn't been feeling well, she thought, she worried, that it may be something, and she didn't want to worry her parents... but then she was dealing with it on her own"

"Oh god... I hoped it wasn't that" I replied, thinking of Josephine and kicking myself for not checking on her when I knew something was up.

"She's okay" Veda told me "don't worry. I talked her into telling the counsellor at school. We kept falling out because she didn't want to scare anyone by telling them, but she was scaring me, because she wasn't"

"Veda you could have told me. I would have supported you both" I told her, turning in my seat to face her fully.

"I know. She didn't want me to tell anyone though, and she had my word. Her Moms took her to the Drs last weekend. She got her results back yesterday evening. Everything is fine"

The relief. "Oh my goodness that must have been terrifying for them. For you too. V, please tell me in the future if anything is worrying you okay"

"Okay" she returned, "I'm just happy she's good. Hopefully now she will stop doing silly shit"

I frowned this time "what silly shit would that be"

She looked sheepish and ignored me "shall we go in" she asked, reaching for the door handle.

I reached over and stopped her, placing my hand on her arm "what silly shit"

"Language" she poked.

"Veda" I warned.

"Ugh. Fine. But it's not something to tell everyone okay"

"Tell me please" I asked again.

She let the door handle go and sat back in her seat "She just got a little out of control one night. Very unlike Jo, like out of her mind. We snuck out. It was one time, but there was this party at one of the kids houses, in our year, and Jo said it was a good place for me to meet everyone before we started school. She had a drink, we both did"

"When was this? Veda I'm so disappointed in you. Sneaking out?! Drinking?!Ugh"

"It was when you went down to Eugene for the night. I was at Jo's"

I held my hand on my heart, relieved it hadn't been my house she snuck out of.

"Sorry" she apologised "I know it was wrong, we haven't done it again"

"Good" I argued.

"What did she do" I asked. "What did Josephine do"

Veda laughed, and held her hand over her mouth to hide it when she realised I wasn't amused.

"She let this boy... go to third base with her" she confessed.

"What" I asked, shocked. "Josephine did" I asked again, completely taken aback.

"She wanted to right. He didn't take advantage or anything" I double check.

Veda smiled "Ooh yes, it was certainly a two way thing. He's liked her for a long time. He's in our year too"

"You are fifteen" I told her, trying to hold back my surprise, and disappointment.

"I know. I've not done anything I swear. I haven't even kissed anyone yet. Neither had Jo until then, well unless you count... no, never mind. Anyway, the morning after she was mortified. We laughed about it though, it was just a silly stupid thing. She told me that she doesn't even like him, but she just wanted to know what it felt like, in case she never got to"

My god, knowing what she meant by, in case she never got to, it physically hurt to know Josephine was worried she might be sick, and that this time she might not be so lucky. That kid, she is so loved! I couldn't imagine how Harper and Teddy felt when she told them, and then the waiting for the results... absolute hell.

"Just promise me, that you won't ever sneak out again, and no kissing anyone for a while please. You are fifteen, go play with baby dolls or something" I poked.

Veda wrinkled up her nose "You are so out of touch with the kids Snow White"

I shook my head and opened the door "come on. Let's go in"

Veda and I brought Normans basket to the front door, and whilst I placed it down on the welcome mat, Veda put the key in the door. The lock clicked, opening as Veda pushed on it with her shoulder, and inside the light poured through the back windows and flooded an open space.

"Wow" Veda gawped "it's ... so nice"

I walked in and looked around from the spot I stopped in. "The sun hits it perfectly. It's just like Allie described, heavenly"

I placed Norman down, shut the door and unlocked his basket. He ran out with a meow that was filled with pent up anger.

"Don't you dare" I told him as he locked eyes with me, coming to a stop at my ankles.

"Veda can you grab his litter tray" I asked. "He's gotta be desperate by now"

Veda came back from the kitchen door, where she had been peeking out into the yard "We should just set him free" she suggested "let him out the back door. It looks perfect for him. Lots of birds, and trees to climb. Why don't we just give him the option. Run free or stay in captivity. It's more than most zoo animals get. He should be outside Mill"

I shrugged "at this point, I don't even care if that door gets left open. He's pushed me to the edge these past twenty four hours. I'm not sure he could climb a tree though, nor catch a bird"

Veda walked back to the door and unlocked it, looking back to me to see if I was bluffing, but I wasn't, not because I wanted to ditch Norman, but because I knew that outside that door was a screened patio and seating area with a fire pit. Norman wasn't going anywhere. It made the Vegan feel better though"

She opened it, wide, and left it like that as she came around to see him at my feet "Go on then... run free" she told him "go find your people"

I tried not to laugh, because he stayed at my ankles, swishing his tail. His nose lifted slightly to smell the fresh air coming in, but he had no intention of joining the wild cats of New Hampshire, this fluff ball was far too spoilt to step into the valley below. He wouldn't survive an hour.

"He's made his choice" I said proudly, dropping down and fussing him.

He lifted a paw at me, and I lifted a finger to him "don't" I warned him "if you even think of touching me with those claws out... I'm relocating you to the white mountains where Bash told me the Sasquatch lives. Want to take your chances" I asked him "I dare you" I threatened, narrowing my eyes at him. He narrowed his right back at me, his ears pinned back.

Vedas phone clicked and she laughed menacingly "I'm sending this on the family group chat" she said.

Veda- Millie and Norman are back at it. We've arrived :)

Willa- Yay! Look at that sun on the wooden floors. I'm getting nostalgic.

Allie- Wren took her first steps in that spot.

Harper- Aww she did. My baby! Glad you both arrived safely. Josephine tracked your flight and gave us all hourly updates. We love you both.

Teddy- I won't tell you about my memories of that kitchen ... but... Nostalgia for sure.

Harper- Theodora!! 🫵🏻

Wren- Hi 👋🏼 Moms not on this chat please. Discuss elsewhere. 🙈 Veda tell Millie to video call me. I want the tour. Can't wait to come next month and see it all for myself. Love you both so much. Feed Norman before he commits an atrocity. 😬

Allie- he looks hungry. Thinner even. Feed him before he loses anymore weight. Love you x

Josephine- Awww, I can't wait to see this house! And you V, miss you already. 👯‍♀️

Olympia- glad you got there okay 👍 I wish I remembered that place.

Willa- The storage truck is being delivered within the next hour. It's got all the furniture you guys will need. We left it part furnished, but the last tenants didn't need it, so we packed it up in a storage place. There should be a couch, and a couple beds, plus a dining table.

Teddy- Ooh the dining table 😏

Harper- Get off of here now 🫵🏻 and come home.

Teddy- 😏 Of course! 😂 Just picking up the kids. We will be back within the hour. Have a good first night Millie and Veda. We will be thinking of you x

Millie- Vedas exploring the upstairs. Normans eating. Thanks everyone 😇 I will keep you updated, and I will await the truck Willa. Thank you x I'll never be able to repay you. Wren I'm going to Video call in two minutes 😘

Willa- We love you. It's what you do for the people you love, kid. x

***

The furniture arrived as Willa had said, and Veda helped me carry in the couch, the dining table, and the bed frames. We worked on getting it feeling a little more like home over the next few hours, and I walked Wren and Cameron around on a video call so that they could see the house too. Cameron looked better, happier for sure. Camilla had told her parents, and it had taken a weight off of their relationship, because despite Camilla being petrified to do it, once she did, she felt such relief. She was like a different person Wren said. That made me happy for him.

Veda and I brought our cases in, and settled down on the couch to watch a movie. Willa hadn't mentioned the TV being in storage, but I was glad when I discovered it at the back of the truck. It was an old TV with a tape player attached to it underneath.

"Why the hell does it have a mouth" Veda had asked.

I laughed so hard, that I almost did a Kate and peed my pants "It's for tapes" I finally gathered myself enough to say.

"What's a tape" Veda asked.

I shook my head "Kids nowadays"

Veda went over and inspected it "there's a tape in it I think"

"Oooh" I said, looking at the control and pressing the button that worked the tape player.

Veda came back and sat beside me, and we both looked as the screen went a little fuzzy. A black and white movie came on.

"Oh my god... it's black and white... it's that old" Veda groaned. "And it's a Christmas movie. We haven't even had Halloween yet"

I smiled as I watched the familiar scenes play out. It was a movie my Mother watched at Christmas. It's a wonderful life.

"It's a good movie" I told her "if you didn't focus on its age, but the actual story, I think you would like it"

Veda shook her head "No, I won't. I think I'll go up to bed. I'm tired"

She stroked Norman. He had taken up the spot on the arm of the couch.

I looked over to her, and felt a pang of sadness, that this could be the final time I watched her head to bed in a while.

"You wanna talk about anything" I asked "I mean about seeing Charlie tomorrow or anything"

She shook her head "I called him earlier. He's excited for me to be dropped off"

I nodded, my stomach sunk. I felt a little like the outsider here. Veda grew up with Charlie, and they had a whole life together. I was the presumed evil half sister with bad intentions, who looked the image of their Mother, a Mother neither ever thought loved them. I didn't even know if she was capable of it either.

"Okay. That's exciting" I told her instead "I can drop you off around Ten if you want to text him and check that's okay"

She smiled and nodded "I will. Sounds good"

Veda had been doing this since I told her about me having to take her back to NH. She had been pushing me away and acting like nothing bothered her, and like this was nothing. I had a feeling it was a coping mechanism, but it made me so low, because if this situation wasn't bad enough, she was now slowly blocking me out to cope.

"Love you Veda" I called after her as she walked over to the staircase.

"Yep" she called back "night"

Ouch.

***