“What appointment?”
Mom froze.
Dad closed his eyes.
Lauren said, “What appointment?”
Mom looked at Dad.
Then at me.
“It was supposed to be a surprise.”
Nobody spoke.
She forced a smile.
“We’re meeting with the realtor.”
I stared at her.
“For the farmhouse?”
“Yes.”
Lauren laughed.
“You rented it.”
Mom’s smile weakened.
Dad sat down.
Then said the sentence that changed the entire room.
**“We didn’t rent it.”**
Silence.
I looked at him.
“What?”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“We bought it.”
Lauren nearly dropped her fork.
“You bought this house?”
Mom snapped, “It was supposed to be announced after brunch.”
I looked around.
The farmhouse.
Six bedrooms.
Twenty acres.
A detached barn.
A frozen pond.
My parents were moving to Arizona.
“Why?”
Dad looked at Mom.
Mom looked at me.
And suddenly, I knew.
“No,” I said.
Nobody answered.
“No.”
Lauren whispered, “What?”
I pushed back my chair.
“This is for me.”
Mom stood.
“Jenna—”
“You bought this for me.”
“It’s an investment.”
“Then why am I meeting the realtor?”
Dad said softly, “Not the realtor.”
My heartbeat slowed.
“Who?”
Mom’s face had gone pale.
“A lawyer.”
Lauren stared at her.
