"What?!?" I exclaimed. "Now? Are Mum and Chase already packed then?" I began to throw my belongings into my brown duffel bag.

Dad suddenly stood still and looked me in the eye. "Willow, me and your mother just had a big argument, and recently we've had lots of others like it. But we decided on one thing. We are getting a divorce. She and Chase are going to live here, and me and you will move out to live with my cousin Ashley. She wants us here by next week, so keep packing "

I was speechless. I knew Mum and Dad had been arguing, but I thought they'd work it out like they always do. Divorce never crossed my mind! Everything was going horribly wrong. Besides, Uncle Connor has told me about Dad's cousin Ashley. Apparently, she had a baby with Connor's best friend Abel, but then abandoned Abel and the child! Dad had never mentioned her before now, but I still think she sounds terrible.

But Dad had his stern face on, and if I tried to disobey him he would get really mad. I still couldn't believe this was happening. Mum and Dad were a happy couple, together forever. Sometimes they got all lovey-dovey in public places, and then I would copy Chase and pretend to vomit, but secretly I liked it. It made me feel all warm inside. 

"Dad, did you and Mum argue because you were cheating on her?" I asked suddenly, instantly regretting my bluntness. He looked shocked. "How did you find out about that?" he gasped, looking outraged. I shrugged. " Well, you can't tell anyone - no one in the family, none of your friends. Not even Chase! Anyway, are you done packing yet? You've been taking ages!"

I'd finished packing a while ago, but I had been secretly putting the same items into the back again and again to put off leaving. I didn't want to go. This was the only home I'd ever known, and I didn't want to leave. But finally I put the last stuffed teddy bear into the bag, and looked around the room solemnly. In my head I was saying goodbye to all the nooks and crannies I'd come to know so well, and feeling like crying as I did so.

And just like that we were leaving, with a goodbye hug to Mum because "you'll see her all the time anyway," and a note for Chase because he was out working long hours. We walked out the front door and just like that we were off, into our new life.