Thirty-One
When we arrive home, Patience is sitting on our front doorstep. When she sees us walking towards the gate, she jumps up and runs towards us. “Connie Alwyn Chase, where have you been?” she asks, sounding much more like my grandmother than a newly teenaged girl. “I’ve been so worried!”
“Patty!” I wrap my little sister up in my arms. She smells like vanilla body spray and fruit toast and a bit like Beezus, who I realise is curled up sleeping on the step. “What are you doing home, darling? I thought you guys were staying at Auntie Barbara’s until tomorrow.”
Patience sticks her bottom lip out. “I missed you. Mum and Dad got sick of me complaining, so we came home.”
“Oh, Pitter-Patter.” I kiss her on the cheek. “They didn’t mind coming home early?”
Patience shakes her head. “Aunt
