Page 67 of Feels Like Home

I round the corner, crossing my arms when I see them facingoff.

“Everything all right inhere?”

“Fine. Just… is the cake cooled yet? We really want to frostit.”

“It’s only been a few minutes, but I suppose you can try, if youwant.”

“Yeah. Can we do italone?”

“Awesome idea, Reece! Yeah, can we,Christine?”

Now they’re suddenly getting alongagain?

Reece shoots daggers at Aidan while trying to slyly shake hishead.

But I’m on tothem.

Something is up, and I have a feeling it involves the mysterious disappearance of the otherthree.

“You don’t want my help?” I ask, hurt in myvoice.

I can act,too.

“It’s not that… we just want to maybe, um, surpriseyou?”

“I lovesurprises!”

“Well, that’sgood.”

“Do you want me to help you make thefrosting?”

“Nope! We got it all figured out!” Aidan says excitedly, showing me his phone, a recipe pulledup.

“Okay,then.”

I make my way up the stairs but not before I hear Reece hit Aidan again then whisper shout, “You’resucha horrible actor. Youknowshe’s totally on to us. You basically blewit.”

“Shut up, Reece! I did not! She mightsuspectsomething but she has noclue…”

I plug my ears and keepwalking.

If this group of clowns wanted whatever this cake business is to be a surprise, I’m not going to take that away fromthem.

I take the time to clean up a little bit and change myclothes.

When I make my way back down the stairs, I try to create as much noise as possible so they know I’mcoming.

“Is it safe to come innow?”

“Just asecond!”

I wait a few more minutes,then…

They appear in front ofme.

Wide smiles and bouncing on theirtoes.

“We’reready.”

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