Finally, the barn was clean. The air still smelled sweet with cake, interrupted now and then by the occasional bark in the distance.
"Let’s go to bed," Cherrie said, stretching and letting out a yawn. "Mom already set up the extra bed."
"I’ll be right there," I replied, pointing toward my dad’s car. "Just need to grab the rest of my stuff from the back seat."
Cherrie nodded.
"Make sure to close and lock the screen door, but leave the main one open. The breeze is really nice tonight."
Then she headed inside, leaving me alone in the dark to grab my things.
I leaned quickly through the car window, grabbing my pillow and backpack from the back seat. Slinging the strap over my shoulder, I headed toward the house. But the second I stepped onto the porch and grabbed the railing, a wave of s
