The Saddest Song - By Susie Kaye Lopez Page 0,56

I said, making a face at him. “I think this was a good idea, don’t you?”

“Splash Mountain is always a good idea,” he smiled at me.

“No, being at Disneyland today. I think it was good for all of us.”

“Mom and dad needed this even more than we did. It has helped keep their minds off of Garrett.”

I liked how Max and I could talk about Garrett and it felt natural. Neither of us flinched in pain any longer at the mention of his name.

We ended the day tired and happy, listening to our parents talk about how much fun they’d had. I leaned my head on Max’s shoulder and fell asleep on the long drive home.

Max

Rainey and I skipped the after Christmas sales and spent the day bathing dogs at Kara’s rescue. I think we were both kind of surprised by how much we enjoyed helping out at the rescue. My parents were already in love with Maggie and whatever horrible abuse she had suffered in the past would hopefully be forgotten in her new life as a pitbull princess. She had dozens of toys, a comfy bed in every room of the house and a run with dad every morning. Kara was busy with eight puppies that had been born on Christmas Eve. She thanked us repeatedly for our help and we offered to come in as many days as she needed us up until we had to leave on New Year’s Eve.

“So, you two are spending New Years Eve up in the mountains, huh?” She asked

casually, as she returned the puppies to their mom. Kara never asked anything, casually.

Rainey had taken two Chihuahuas out for a short walk.

“We are,” I said, waiting.

“You making any resolutions for the new year?”

“I don’t know, should I be?”

“Well, I think everyone should begin a new year with positivity, patience and a faith that what is meant to be will find a way to be. That old saying, “good things are worth the wait” is priceless.”

“Hmm;” I mumbled, as I put the lid back on the dog shampoo and wiped down the sink. I knew she was trying to tell me something but I didn’t think it was anything to worry about. Not then, anyway. All I felt was a happy anticipation for the trip back up to the mountain.

Chapter 23

Rainey

New Years Eve was sunny and warm in San Diego. The forecast for the mountains was cloudy and cold, no snow expected. This made for a nice drive. We had rain earlier in the week which meant there would be snow on the ground up there. On the ground, but not on the roads, made for perfect conditions.

Max and I left early, anxious to get there. Since Gran and Grandad wouldn’t be there, our moms had sent coolers full of food. Max’s mom even ordered us Danish Kringles for our breakfast.

“She’s making it up to you for getting the wrong flavor on Thanksgiving,” I said as we pulled out of my driveway.

“Yeah, she double checked the label ten times. I’m glad they are going to dinner with your parents tonight. I didn’t want them to sit home.”

“They’ll have a great time. Dad made reservations at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. They are taking Grandma too. She got back this morning.”

“We have to take her to Disneyland soon.”

I agreed and grabbed his iPod.

“May I?”

“Go ahead. As long as it’s mine and not yours I should be fine.”

We spent the next two hours happily talking non- stop. We arrived just as Sophie and Ethan were unloading their truck. They told us Rylee and Colin would be awhile since they had hit traffic coming from L.A. They had spent the holidays with Rylee’s family.

Max and I carried our coolers into the kitchen and Sophie helped me put all the food away. Max and Ethan took our bags up to our rooms and we followed them up to unpack. I was in the same room as last time and I hung up the dress I had bought for New Years Eve. It was short, black and had used up the entire Bloomingdales gift card my aunt had given me for Christmas. It was worth it. I had fallen in love the second I had tried it on. We all had decided to go all out tonight and get dressed up.

“Hey,” Max called from his room across the hall, “Colin and Rylee are here!” We helped them in with their stuff and then we all went into town and had