Suddenly, I missed Hailey, my parents, and my dog. I decided to video chat Hailey.

“Harper!” she answered—no, shrieked—into my cell phone screen. It was funny what a little distance could do for a sibling. Hailey was often my number one fan, but she seemed so much more excited when I called from far away.

“What are you all up to?” I was just as happy to see her. She was holding a mixing spoon and had one of the aprons that had come with the cooking show set she’d gotten for her birthday.

“Hello? We were all watching on live stream! We saw your competition!”

“Thank you!”

“You were like this!” She held her spoon up in a pose. “Then this!” Hailey dance-posed around the room with her bowl and spoon and then went offscreen.

“Uh, Hailey,” I said. “I can’t see you.”

“Oh!” She popped back onscreen. She showed me the goopy brown contents of her bowl. “Anyway, I’m making you celebration brownies.”

“Thanks? But I’m not even there,” I said. “You know I’m not going to be back for a few days?”

“Hee-hee,” she said. “I know. But that’s what I told Mom so she’d let me bake. Sorry you’ll miss them.”

“Let me speak to Mo.” I shook my head when I imagined the mess she was creating.

“Mo, it’s Harper! Come on and say hi.” Hailey pointed the camera to Mo, who was clearly searching the kitchen for me.

“Not there, Mo.” I cracked up. “I’m over here.”

“He’s all confused.” Hailey laughed.

Just then, a text came through. It had to be Eliza.

We’re downstairs.

“Oh, I gotta go, Hailey. Eliza’s here.”

“Are you going to Connecticut?” Hailey screamed. “Don’t forget to say hi to Timothy the squirrel!”

“Um, I’ll try. And tell Mom and Dad I said hi,” I said. “Give Mo squishes for me.”

I hung up and zipped around the hotel room to grab my bag and my shoes. What else, what else? My key card! My phone was in my hand, but I kept feeling like there was something else I was forgetting. I hated when I got that nagging feeling, but couldn’t figure it out. Oh, well. It would come to me. I headed out the door and across the hall. After a few knocks, Vanessa came out to escort me down.

“Ready to be reunited with your old crew?” She smiled.

“I’m ready for it all. Being in Connecticut again is going to be bananas.” I was sure I had the same dreamy look Riley had had when looking at Trey.

“Well, have a wonderful time, and we’ll see you back here later tonight.” Vanessa waved to Eliza’s mom, who was right outside the elevator doors.

“Thanks, Vanessa!” I said before hugging Eliza hello with a squeal. Eliza sat up front with her mom, and I sat in the back seat, looking out the window. I recognized some of the sites we passed as Eliza’s mom drove us out of the city, although mostly I had taken the train when I’d lived here.