A natural blush joined the cosmetic one on my cheeks. “Thank you.” I knelt down and kissed his forehead. Knox wandered over for a kiss too and then the next thing I knew, each of my silly siblings lined up and I gladly gave out kisses. Affection wasn’t my strong suit, but the more Vance held my hand and pulled me in for hugs, the more I understood just how much my siblings were in need of it. I still hadn’t granted Vance that kiss he kept teasing about, but I was glad he kept coming around all summer and fall, even once he got busy with the big class load he was taking at the community college. I still figured it couldn’t last, but I decided to just enjoy it while it did.

Feeling light and carefree, I gave in to the silly notion to twirl, sending the dress skirt to flare like an open umbrella and making the little twins giggle. I curtsied like a real lady before shoving my feet in my sandals.

Charlotte clucked her tongue. “You can’t wear Birkenstocks with a nice dress like that.”

Peg crossed his arms in disapproval. “Especially when you’re having dinner with the mayor.”

The others threw in their two cents.

I held my palms up to hush them. “It’s either these —” I kicked the Birkenstocks off and stepped into a pair of mile-high platform wedges, black suede with a thick cork base, that sent me towering over them —“or these things that make me look like a giant.” I mimicked Frankenstein, stomping around in the monstrosities with my arms flapping in front of me. The twins squealed while darting out of my path.

“Mama didn’t have anything else dressier?” Charlotte asked.

I wiggled out of the platforms, stepping way down to meet the floor. “I thought she had a pair of black heels but I can’t find them.”

Charlotte picked up one of the wedges and examined it. “I wonder if these float?” she asked, reading my mind about their resemblance to boats.

I snickered. “Probably as good as that red wagon.” My comment had Peg grumbling behind me.

She dropped the shoe and it landed with a loud thud. “Can you borrow a pair from Foxy?”

“My foot is two sizes bigger than hers, so no.” I lifted a shoulder and sighed before returning to the Birkenstocks.

“No!” Charlotte protested.

We went back and forth, annoying Peg to the point that he stomped out of the room. It was a wonder he’d stuck around that long.

I had one sandal on and was playing tug-of-war with Charlotte for the other when Peg reappeared. He thrust a dusty pair of black leather heels my way. I let go of the Birkenstock and accepted them, sending my sister flailing backwards until Boss caught her.