Are you sure it’s okay, Ma?” Kara asked. Again.
She hugged her daughter. “Pop is recovering nicely. He’ll be going home in another day or two.”
“But I don’t have to go now.” Kara looked around her living room. She couldn’t believe how much had happened in one short week. “You need help packing.”
“I didn’t have six kids for nothing.” Ma smoothed Kara’s hair. “I’ll be putting them all to work. And you too. You and Flora gotta find us a house down there in Orlando.”
“I can’t believe this is really happening.” Kara hugged her mother. “We’re moving to Orlando!”
“And you better make sure our new house has at least four bedrooms. Your nieces and nephews are gonna take turns coming down in the summers. And the whole family is coming out for Christmas.”
“Will four bedrooms be enough?”
“Well now.” Ma patted Kara’s hand. “We don’t want them getting too comfortable, do we?”
Kara laughed. “Four bedrooms it is.”
“A pool would be nice.”
“Nice?” Kara put her hands on her mother’s shoulders. “Oh, Ma. A pool is necessary for Pop’s recovery. And a hot tub too. Definitely a hot tub. For Pop.”
“Sure, for Pop.” Ma winked.
“All right, then.” Kara walked down the hallway. “Next time I’m here, this’ll be Mary’s house.”
Ma walked behind Kara. “This is a wonderful house to raise a family in.”
Kara looked at the pictures on the wall. Her parents and grandparents, brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews all smiled back. A lifetime of memories.
“She’s probably going to turn it all modern.” Kara continued walking, looking in each of the bedrooms. “Rip up the carpet, replace it with hardwood. Ikea furniture.”
“Your sister has different tastes than me.” Ma smiled. “But it’s her house. She can do whatever she wants with it.”
“As long as she doesn’t take down my tree house.” Kara walked into her bedroom and looked through the window.
“We kept the ER busy with that tree house.” Ma laughed. “Remember when you tried to play Tarzan?”
Kara laughed with her. “Sure do. I was just telling Flora about that a little while ago.”
“Scared me to death, seeing you lying on the ground, your head all bloody.”
“But you were so calm.” Kara gazed at her mother. “Sam was screaming like crazy, running around the yard, yelling for an ambulance. I remember that.”
Ma smiled, a tear falling down her cheek. “He loved his baby sister. Thought it was his fault you fell—said he dared you to do it.”
“He did? I thought it was my idea.”
“It probably was.” Ma sniffed. “But he still felt guilty.”
“Oh, Ma. I’m going to miss this house.”
“Me too.”
Kara peered into her parents’ bedroom. Memories of nights spent cuddled between the two of them flooded her mind. Kara began to cry, excited about the future but sad that a piece of her past was changing.
“I’ve been praying, Kara, like you said.” Ma walked beside Kara to the kitchen.
“You have?”
“I never really thought much about God. My life was so good.”
“But God makes your life even better.”
“So I’ve heard.” Ma smiled. “I want us to find a church there in Orlando. Maybe we can all get to know God together, as a family.”
“That sounds great.”
A horn sounded in the front yard. Kara opened the door to see a huge Hummer limo in front of her house. Her entire family—all her brothers and sisters, their spouses, and her nieces and nephews piled out. Kara couldn’t stop the tears as they fell down her cheeks.
“You didn’t think we’d let our big star just sneak off, did you?” Joey said. “Go inside for a minute. We’ve got more stuff for you to bring.”
Kara hadn’t noticed until then that every person had a gift. “My suitcase is full already, Joey.”
“Don’t worry.” Sam smiled. “These won’t take up too much space.”
Kara was led into the living room by her family and given the seat of honor, her father’s recliner.
“Pop insisted on coming.” Mary reached into a briefcase and pulled out her laptop. “Hang on.” Mary pressed a few keys and her father’s face popped up on the screen.
“Kara, my girl.” Pop sat up in his hospital bed. “I wouldn’t miss your send-off for anything. Not even for a heart attack.”
Kara wiped more tears from her eyes as little Ethan handed her his gift. Kara opened the bag and found a boarding pass inside.
“I’m coming in two weeks.” Ethan smiled up at Kara. “And Mommy said you’ll take me to meet Buzz Lightyear.”
Kara hugged her nephew. “You bet I will, buddy.”
Emily was next and her gift also contained a boarding pass. Gift after gift contained the same thing. Plane tickets to Orlando. The only differences were the dates. Someone from her family was coming every month for the next six months.
“You guys are the best.” Kara hugged each one in the room.
“Enough of that.” Pop spoke up. “You’re making me jealous. Now get my girl to the airport. She’s got big plans today.”
“Thanks, Pop.” Kara walked to the computer. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Kara. Now get going. And I expect a call tonight. I want to hear about this mystery boy.”
The rest of Kara’s family joined in, each wanting a call.
“He’s just my costar,” Kara said. “No big deal.”
The room erupted in laughter. “Right, Kar. No big deal. Like we believe that,” Joey said.
“Stop, you’re embarrassing me.” Kara ducked past her family and exited the front door. “Now, come on, you slow pokes. I call the sunroof!”
Kara entered the monstrous limousine and stuck her head out of the top. “Good-bye, New York. Good-bye, house. Hello, Orlando!”