Mom came to our room and woke us with two plates of food at midday. We took the plates with slow, guilty movements.

“You girls must have stayed up too late last night.” She was sitting cross-legged on the woven throw rug while Cassidy and I sat on our beds. We nodded at her and chewed our food.

“So, where exactly did you take the car for six hours?”

The bite I’d just swallowed halted in my esophagus, and Cass turned as green as a pixie. For a moment I wondered if Mom was talented enough to give us both the Heimlich at the same time. She gave a halfhearted grin at our choking silence.

“You girls know I’m a light sleeper when I’m not exhausted. And I’ve been on my guard with everything going on lately. We would have let you go if you had asked, you know. You could have left sooner and had more time away.” She shifted her pointed gaze back and forth between the two of us. “Ah, well. What a shame.”

Cassidy and I looked at each other.

“Mom…,” I began. As the “mature and responsible” older sister, I felt the sting of blame from within. Saying sorry seemed so measly.

She put us out of our misery by shrugging and standing, brushing off her bottom and leaving us.

“Shitballs,” Cass said, around the mouthful of bread she’d yet to swallow. I nodded my head in agreement. Mom tried not to show it, but I knew she was hurt that we’d run off behind her back. I set my fork on the plate, not hungry anymore.

I couldn’t restrain the snark. “Told you we should have just asked.”

“Oh, shut up. You were having the time of your life, all, kiss me Leprechaun! Don’t act like you regret it.”

I whacked her head with a feather pillow and she whined. “I regret hurting Mom,” I clarified. “We need to go apologize.”

“And beg forgiveness,” Cass added, sounding grumpy. She threw the pillow back to my bed. “At least you can’t be grounded anymore. I might not have a life for the beginning of my senior year now.”

We crawled out of bed and got ready to face the day. Cassidy grabbed my arm.

“Please tell me it was worth it,” she said.

I looked in her pretty brown eyes. “It was so worth it,” I admitted.

She grinned. “Is he a good kisser?”

I felt embarrassed and tried not to smile, which made her poke me in the side.

“Tell me!” she said, tickling my waist.

“All right, yes!” I laughed. “Oh, my gosh. Just… yes.”

She stilled and eyed me with loving affection. I knew all of her expressions so well. She was happy for me, and sort of proud. But it was the kind of pride laced with sadness, like a parent whose child was growing up and preparing to leave them.

“Come on,” I whispered, afraid to get emotional.

Cassidy and I walked down to the clearing where people ate and played various games.

McKale sat with my parents. He looked pale when he saw us.

“Ah, girls!” Dad said. “McKale was just telling us all about the dance club.”

Oy. My stomach tightened. McKale gave us apologetic looks as we sat down in our usual places, slumping.

“Mom and Dad,” I said. “I’m sorry we took the car without asking.” My voice was somber, but the words still sounded lame.

“Yeah, we’re sorry.” Cassidy looked like she might cry again. The girl had an endless supply of tears at her disposal.

“If something had happened to you all…” Mom let the thought taper away as she closed her eyes and shook her head, imagining the worst.

We hung our heads in shame.

“You girls aren’t children anymore. We’re prepared to give you more freedoms if you act responsibly. Your mother and I are reasonable people, aren’t we?”

Cass and I nodded at him, barely raising our chins.

Dad exhaled a heavy sigh and went on. “You’re old enough now that we should be able to talk through things. Let’s just put last evening behind us for now and try to enjoy the rest of the summer. We can plan another trip out of the village at some point before we go, okay?” Again we nodded. “Alrighty then. What’s on your agendas for today?”

We were all quiet for a second, and then I decided to throw out some positive vibes.

“McKale and I are going on a date today. Right now if that’s okay.”

My parents perked up.

“Of course,” Mom cooed, taking Dad’s hand and smiling at us. I watched as McKale’s eyes took in my parent’s affectionate interaction with one another.

“Yeah. I think it’s time for the video and the bin.”

Cassidy gasped and Mom covered her heart.

“Oh, honey, I think that’s a wonderful idea.”

“Thanks,” I said, relieved that the worst of the tension had passed from the table. I looked at McKale again, whose face now showed obvious confusion. “I’m probably going to need your help carrying something,” I told him. “I thought we could go to your favorite place today.”

“Erm… aye, of course.” He stood after I did and we reached for each others’ hands.

When I turned to say good-bye to my family, both my mom and sister had tears streaming, and I swear my dad’s eyes glistened as well. Ah, my family. Sweet cry babies. My heart was full, and I said the only thing worth saying.

“Love you guys.”

McKale gave me a what-the-heck-is-going-on? look, so I gently tugged his hand and led him to my room. He stood in the doorway like a gentleman. He looked happy when he saw the tiny berry basket he’d given me on the table next to my bed. I’d started picking flowers to put in it every morning after chores.