Annie hugged her tightly as more tears welled in her eyes. It was amazing how much she’d missed her family. “I was going to call you, but then I thought you would be busy with homework, so I thought I would wait until I knew you were done.” Peyton’s tiny giggle made Annie melt.

“I don’t have homework. I’m only five.” She held five fingers up to reiterate her age.

“What’s going on out here?” Chase walked down the stairs and hugged Annie. “Welcome back. Did you get a new car?”

“No, but I did!” Sarah said. She waved Annie over. “Get in. Let’s go for a drive.”

“Can I come?” Peyton asked.

“No, sweetie. We need to put in your booster seat. Besides, it’s bedtime, so Daddy needs to take you inside and read you a story. We’ll be back before you fall asleep.”

Annie gave Peyton one last hug and transferred her to Chase’s outstretched arms before crawling into the passenger side.

“I want the full story, so be back in ten,” he said.

“Years! Ten years!” Sarah yelled and waved as she slowly backed down the driveway. She stopped at the bottom and hugged Annie hard. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I wanted to, and I promised you that I would. The paperwork is in the glove compartment. The check for the sales tax is in it, too. The only thing you need to do is get it insured and registered.”

Sarah cupped Annie’s face. “I’m so proud of you, sis. You did it. You hit it big.”

“It’s only a car. Besides, I have an idea for what I want to do next.”

“You’re going to get a manager, right? And then sign with the biggest record label, right?”

Annie shrugged. “I met with Top Shelf this morning, and they promised me everything I wanted, but it didn’t feel right. I know the importance of going on tour and staying in front of an audience, but I like my life. I like what I’m doing. And with the added boost of having been on tour with the most famous pop star of our generation, I’ve gained followers. A ton of followers.” She emphasized the word ton.

Sarah pulled back into the driveway after the slowest drive around the neighborhood and put her new car in park. “I’m overwhelmed with everything. You’re home again. You bought me a car. A fucking car! Peyton started school today. Where did the time go? I just don’t know where to land right now.”

Annie hugged her sister again. “I get it. But everything is good. I’m good, your daughter is good, you have a job you love, you have a new car, and you don’t have to check on Raven for a long time.”