Authors Note: Please review and let me know how you are liking the story! I will be updating the story everyday on the weekend and then pausing on the weekdays.
"Cleo, you have a phone call!"
"A phone call? For me? Here? Who is it?"
"Well, I don't know why you're acting so surprised, sweetie," Don Sertori responded, "you did used to live here."
Cleo got up from the couch and walked toward her father. "You're right, Dad, I'm sorry I questioned you. Now, who is it?"
Don paused. "Why don't you just take the call, Cleo? I, uh, I think I forgot to turn off the, um, lawnmower." Quickly, he put the phone in Cleo's hands and walked away.
"Dad! You haven't even mowed the lawn today!" Cleo huffed. She hadn't wanted anyone to know she was home, and now, thinking that she had a phone call, the new must have gotten around somehow. How embarrassing.
Taking a deep breath, she composed herself. "Cleo speaking." Nothing. "Hello?" Someone cleared his throat.
"Cleo? Hi, this is . . .um, hold on one moment."
Cleo tensed up, she knew that voice. "Zane?"
She heard a scuffle on the other side of the phone, as if he had fallen down stairs or something.
"Hey stranger," Rikki said.
Cleo's mouth dropped open, and immediately she hung up the phone. How dare Rikki call here, and after all these years! After everything that had happened? The nerve she's got! Cleo felt the phone vibrate in her hand. She slammed it onto the counter before running out the door. Don, who had been messing with the lawnmower, stepped toward her.
"Cleo?"
"You know how I feel about her! How dare you give me the phone when you knew!"
"Cleo, I was just trying to help—"
"No! I don't need your help!"
She left him standing shamefully on the front lawn as she ran down the street.