As I climb the stairs, I see my niece and nephew on the stairs, looking at the front door. Logan has his arms crossed, and he doesn't look happy. Sitting next to him, I say. "Log, buddy. What's wrong?"

"I don't want to go home. I want to stay here?"

"Me too," Mia pipes in. "Mommy and Daddy won't let us."

Mom walks past at that moment and looks at them. "Kids, you need to go home. You have school tomorrow. I'll talk to your parents and see when I can come over for a visit."

They perk up at that. "Can Aunty Liz come too?" Logan asks.

Messing his hair up, I say. "I wouldn't miss a chance to see you again. I'll take you to the park and get ice cream." Placing my finger to my lips, I add. "We can't tell Mom and Dad."

"Tell Mom and Dad what?" Kat asks as she rounds the corner holding Seb's hand.

"It's a secret."

Kat shakes her head at me. "You shouldn't keep secrets from your favourite sister." Lowering her voice, she adds. "My kids will tell me all about it in the car. So, it won't be a secret when the time comes."

"Your sister and I want to visit next week from Friday through Sunday if you don't have anything going on."

A smile spreads across Kat's face. "I would love for you both to come. Can you see if Dad can take time off, too? We're having a BBQ at Seb's family's estate on Saturday night, and we know that you'll love it there."

Seb's family own a vineyard and sells their wines to local outlets. They even have an online store where you can order their stuff. For years, the wine has been the number one seller. It's been winning awards for a long time as well. The family hoped that Seb would take over it, but he went in another direction and started his own multi-million-dollar company. It took a lot of hard work for him to make it that successful, and I'm glad he chose my sister to make a family with. They're like my personal fairy-tale ending.

I know everything isn't perfect, and it takes a lot of hard work for my sister and her husband to have the relationship they do.

"Aunty Liz. Can you come outside?" Logan asks.

"Sure, buddy." I lift Mia and carry her outside, while Logan holds my hand. We walk to the car. The alarm goes off as soon as we reach it, and I strap them into the booster seats. Kissing them both on the cheek, I say. "I'll see you on the weekend for ice cream."

"Yay," Logan and Mia scream at the same time.

Which makes a smile stretch across my face. I hug Kat again before she climbs into the car. "See you on the weekend. If you want, bring Austin with you. I'm sure he'd like to visit the estate that Seb's family owns. I hear he's into taking photographs of rich folks' homes."

Shaking my head, I say. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. His girlfriend lives in the City, and I don't want to risk him running into any of their friends while we're at yours."

"Too bad. There's a nice room in the boarding house that would be useful for you." She climbs into the car and puts her seatbelt on. Looking at me, she adds. "Just think about it, Sis."

"I will," I promise her.

Mom and I wave at them as they pull out of the driveway and head to the City. Mom leans on me and says. "You should invite Austin. I know his plan for staying here for a month was to win you over, and if you leave for three days, that's three days you won't get back. You'll regret it if you don't tell him what's happening."

I helped her into the house. "As I said to Kat, I'll think about it. I don't want everyone on my back about who I date. I had had enough listening to Nina and Ronnie telling me that it's not a good idea to date someone who already has a girlfriend."

"Do you think he's going to break up with her?"

"Yes," I help her up the stairs to her bedroom. "Austin sent me a message this morning about him calling it off with her. Nina and Ronnie will find out about this and blame me for it."

Mom pulls me into her side and kisses the top of my head. "Nina's not going to blame you. She's been in the same situation as you before. Ronnie was seeing another woman when he married your sister in Vegas. It was messy when those two got together, and I had to help her sort out the problems."

I stopped walking and looked at her. "Where was I when all this was going down?"

She sits on her bed and pulls a journal from under her pillow. "Everything you need to know about each of your siblings' relationships is in here, and when they called me for advice, I gave them the response. I don't want to forget everything I've said to you all. So, I write down. Someday, I won't be around for advice. However, this journal will help you along the way. I want you to have it when I pass away."

I don't want to think about her dying. It's bad enough I saw her after the stroke, and that isn't something I'd want anyone else to live through.

Taking the journal from her, I carry it into my bedroom and climb into bed. I turn the lamp on and open the journal.

Property of Amadene Donoghue

For my girl Eliza X

Do not read if your name isn't on this front page.

A smile spreads across my face as I read that she doesn't want anyone who isn't me reading it.

September 23rd 2018

Today, I got a phone call from my daughter, Nina, who got herself into a sticky situation with a guy who was seeing another woman before he married my daughter, drunkenly, on a night out in Vegas. She called me the next day and told me everything that had happened. She wanted to know what I thought of her predicament.

I told her that since she got married, it would be best that she stick it out with the man she married and that she wouldn't regret a moment with him.

She took my advice and went back to the City with him. From what I can tell, they are living the best life they possibly could with their situation.

I love the way Mom continues to update what happens on the page, even if she updates it over time.

I'll give her the book back after my nap.

Closing the book, I place it on the nightstand before reaching over and turning the light off. I cover myself with the quilt before going to sleep.