Mia woke up to the sound of birds and the distant hum of a boat engine. No slamming doors. No Jake blasting music. No Mom hovering with worried eyes. Just quiet.
She went through her morning online classes at the desk facing the lake. The professor’s voice droned on about economics while she doodled in her notebook. When the last class ended, she closed her laptop and stretched.
Aunt Lisa was in the kitchen making a sandwich. “You done with school stuff?”
“Yeah. For today.”
“Good. I need coffee beans from town. And maybe some fresh bread if they have any. You mind walking down? It’s a nice day.”
Mia shrugged. “Sure. I’ll go now.”
Lisa tossed her the keys to the old bike in the garage. “Faster than walking. And say hi to people. They don’t bite. Much.”
Mia rode the creaky bike into t
