Ascent by M. C. Zappitello

Author:M. C. Zappitello [Zappitello, M. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-12-13T06:00:00+00:00

. Chapter Fourteen

Thanksgiving break finally arrived.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving was a professional development day for school staff, so I didn't have any classes. And Sam’s mom told me not to come in to the Boutique that day because they were closing early for the holiday, which meant that I would be free the whole day. When she found out that Mark and Gina had arranged to take Wednesday off so they could leave Tuesday evening, and were hoping to drop me off at the Stuarts’ on their way to the airport, she told me to take Tuesday off as well. Further, she said that, because I was “always so dependable and such a hard worker,” she was giving me the four hours on Tuesday as paid personal time. Yea!

The break would end with Will bringing me home Sunday evening.

Will dropped me off at home after school on Tuesday so I could pack. I was so excited (and nervous when I thought about singing for him) that I didn't seem to know which way was up. This being the first time I had ever packed to go anywhere, I needed to concentrate on what I was doing. Calm down, Cassie, I told myself. Think. Gina had traveled a lot with Mark (before me, that is), and suggested that I think through my daily routine and pack everything that I used that wouldn't be available at the Stuarts'. So I did. Or tried to, anyway. By the time I closed the old suitcase she lent me for the occasion, I was pretty sure I had everything I would need. But, I reminded myself, I had my key to the house, so I could always come back and get anything I had forgotten. All done.

When Mark and Gina walked me up to the Stuart's house, complete with suitcase, Melinda opened the door. "We're going to have so much fun, Cassie!" She grabbed my hand. "Come on!"

Mark interceded. "Hey, Melinda, could we have her long enough for a hug?" he asked as he set my suitcase inside the door.

"Oh, yeah. Sure," she responded, releasing my hand.

"Have fun, Kiddo," Mark said as he hugged me good-bye.

"Be good, Cassie. Love you." And Gina held me longer than Mark had.

"She'll be fine, Gina," Mark reassured her as he took her arm and they started down the steps.

I was thinking about waiting and waving good-bye as they drove off, but Melinda pushed me inside and shut the door. "You're all ours now," she announced, picking up my suitcase and heading toward the stairs.

"Where's . . . ?" I started to ask, still standing in the entry way.

"Will?" he finished, catching me from behind, turning me around, and picking me up in a very enthusiastic hug before I had time to even blink. I instinctively threw my arms around his neck and held on tight. "Would you mind very much if I do everything possible to monopolize you while you're here?" he whispered in my ear. I answered by depositing a kiss on his neck.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.