Grandma Amanda gives Neil a hug. I like seeing my two worlds collide, having the people who I care about know one another. Maybe Neil can join me on a few trips back here.

“Well, I guess this is it,” Mom says as she hands Neil my suitcase. He takes it and Baxter to the car.

That’s when I look out to see which car Neil drove over a thousand miles here. “Oh my God, Rob let you drive his Jeep?” Rob wouldn’t even let Marian take it two towns over for McDonald’s. We aren’t allowed to eat or drink in his “baby.”

Neil turns around. “Yeah. He insisted. I believe his exact words were ‘bring our Ally back home’ as he threw his keys down on the table.”

I can’t believe it. “Does this mean I have to be nice to him now?”

“Nah,” Neil says with a wink. “It’s the least he could do for the vast amount of emotional torture it is to be his friend.”

I laugh until I turn around to see the family I’m leaving. I don’t know where to start.

Craig gives me a hug. “Call if you need anything. Here.” He tries to hand me some money.

“I can’t,” I reply.

“It’s a stepdad’s duty to spoil his stepdaughter by bribing her for affection.”

“But I already like you.”

“Well, then.” He pretends to put the money back in his pocket before placing it firmly in my hand.

Grandma Amanda gives me a hug. “Neil seems like a nice boy.”

“He really is. But I’m going back for much more than a boy.”

“I know. And I am going to be so happy to meet the rest of the Gleasons at your graduation.” She gives me a kiss on the cheek.

Sarah is next. She hugs me, and I don’t want to let go. “It’s see you later, right, Sis?”

“Yeah. See you soon, Sis.” I’ll be back here in less than two months. Seven weeks if you’re counting, which Mom is. So am I.

“I’m going to miss you,” she says softly.

“I already miss you,” I admit. I like having a sister.

“FaceTime when you cross state lines.”

“You can count on it.” I give her forehead a kiss.

I’ve been able to hold it together so far, but I feel a heaviness build in my chest. Saying goodbye is way harder than I thought.

Mom takes both of my hands. “I’m so proud of who you’ve become, I would never want to get in the way of that.”

That’s it. The floodgates have opened. I cry as I hug my mom.

“Don’t you start, or I won’t be able to stop,” she says through sobs.

“You two make quite the pair,” Craig comments.

“Like mother, like daughter,” Mom says between sobs.