Kate:

I didn't know we were home until Jesse pulled his Ford into the driveway of my house. The whole ride home, I had been in a dream-like state. My eyes never left Taylor's journal in my lap. I probably didn't even blink.

"Home sweet home!" Jesse sang with a wistful sigh. "Come on, Kate. Let's go say hi to Mom and Pop."

One by one, my senses jumped back to life, until the dreamy, floaty feeling disappeared and I was myself again, sitting shotgun in Jesse's truck. I shook the last of my drowsiness off and fumbled with my seat belt.

Apparently, not all my senses had awakened yet. As I slipped out of the car, my knees gave way. Flailing, I stumbled a couple feet, swaying like a limp banana peel.

Jesse was at my side in a snap, catching me before I hit the ground. He hoisted me up, his hands secure under my armpits. "Kate!" he said cautiously. "You just fell."

I stood up and brushed off my jeans coldly. "I know," I said, rolling my eyes. "Cancer doesn't give you short-term memory loss."

Jesse blushed and opened his mouth a couple times like a fish, trying to think of something to say. "I just- I thought maybe you were. . ." he mumbled. "Never mind. I'm just worried about you."

I raised my eyebrows. "Why would you be worried about me?"

Jesse glanced up at me sheepishly. He shuffled his feet.

"You don't have to worry about me," I said, edging forward a step.

Jesse pursed his lips.

I folded my arms and planted my feet wide, waiting.

Jesse grinned, rather embarrassed. "Yeah, I can see that now. I'm sorry. Shouldn't have worried about you, Kate. You kept fighting." He stole a look at the front door, just yards away from us. "I think. . . I guess we should be worrying about Mom and Dad."

"You think? Maybe we should take another road trip. . .?" I suggested with a grin.

Jesse reached over to slug me in the arm and led me inside.

___

Mom was standing at the sink, washing the dishes, which seemed to be her new favorite hobby. She glanced up and gasped when she saw Jesse and me standing in the doorway. For a minute, she was frozen. Then she dropped her dish towel and ran forward, her arms spread wide in a hug. She hummed little mother sounds as she threw her arms around Jesse and rocked him back and forth. I smiled, noting the embarrassed look on his face.

A century later, Mom let go of Jesse and held him at arm's length. "You scared me!" she said sternly, effortlessly working the strict-parent act. "Don't sneak up on your mother like that! You'll give me a heart attack-- is that what you want?"

Jesse waved it off. "Is that all you have to say to me?" he said, pretending to sound hurt.

Mom swatted him playfully in the arm just as Dad walked in.

"Jesse! How are you, champ?" he said, pounding Jesse on the back. Jesse pounded him back even harder. They pounded each other and high-fived for a few minutes like they were communicating through some secret guy-language. Mom watched with a silly grin on her face.

I had almost forgotten I was there, almost believing that I was just a little spirit wafting through walls and happening to pass by this scene. I was jolted back into reality when Mom hugged me tight.

I fluttered my hands at my sides, unsure for a moment. Then I reached up and patted Mom's shoulder.

Mom pulled away and smiled at me, eyes watery. "I missed you, Kate," she said softly. Her eyes flitted to my bald head and widened in shock.

"Surprise," I said.

Mom opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. After a moment, she said, "Why did you do that?"

My mouth pulled into a smile around the corners, but I was more exhausted than amused. I was tired of answering questions. "I thought it would annoy you the most," I said finally, and flashed a wry smile.

Mom's shoulders sagged. "I was just getting used to your hair again," she said. "You should have told me you were getting a shave. I wish I could've saved a strand or two."

I reached into my pocket and pulled out one golden curl. Holding it up to the light, I said, "I knew you'd say that. I asked the stylist to save some before she shaved it all off." I cupped Mom's hand in mine and pressed the lock into her palm. "It's for you. I didn't have time to buy a souvenir, so that's your surprise gift. I thought maybe you could put it in a scrapbook."

Jesse appeared at Mom's side and peered over her shoulder. "Whoa," he said, gawking at the lock of hair. He looked up at me. "'My daughter went on a road trip and all I got was a strand of hair'?"

I shrugged.

Jesse pretended to pout. "I didn't get one," he grumbled. "Not fair, Kate. I guess I'll just have to return that Gucci purse I bought you." He grinned.

Mom wrapped her arms around me in a fleeting hug. "That was very thoughtful of you, Kate. Thank you." She opened up her apron pocket and dropped it in carefully.

Everyone was quiet for a moment. The awkward silences would never change, I guess.

Finally, Jesse glanced at his watch. "Wow, it's getting kind of late. I really should get going. I need to swing by the grocery store on the way back, and you know how long that can take." He bent down swiftly to plant a kiss on Mom's cheek, but she pushed him away.

"We've got plenty of food here," Mom said. "Stay with us tonight. At least until after dinner. You're never too old to spend time with your family."

Jesse straightened up and looked at me.

I locked eyes with him, sending him a psychic message which I hope sounded like, Stay for dinner or you'll never hear the end of this. He couldn't just abandon me after what we'd been through together.

And he didn't. After a good 30 seconds of staring contest, he nodded slowly and smiled at Mom. My brother had my back.

Jesse grinned and wrapped his arms around Mom's and my shoulders. "All right. Dinner it is. I hope you're making me something special. . ." he teased as he led us to the kitchen.

___

"Kate," Jesse said as he threw down his napkin, "remind me never to eat your cooking again."

I rolled my eyes. "Why?" As I glanced around the table, I saw that everyone's plates were empty.

"Because it's so good, I'll never stop eating. Where did you learn to cook Italian?" He rubbed his belly gingerly. "I swear, my stomach's about to pop. You must have it in for me."

"I'm glad you like it," I said, standing up and taking my plate to the sink. "Because I expect payment."

Mom, Dad, and Jesse laughed. I turned away from them so they couldn't see my smile. It felt great to laugh without guilt.

Anna was no longer the first thing on my mind anymore. I still thought about her a lot, and it still hurt, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel that I was just now beginning to notice. I was going to keep living.

Still, something was nagging me. It wouldn't be over until I got it over with.

Quietly, I excused myself, leaving everyone laughing at something Jesse had said, and slipped back into the front hall. Taylor's journal was propped against the stairway where I'd left it. I scooped it up and sat down on the first step.

There was a blue sticky note peeking out from the top of the notebook that read, Kate- this is a good place to begin. -Mrs. Ambrose.

I smiled.

Shaking, I flipped open to the marked page. Some last-minute thoughts raced through my head: should I be reading this? Would Taylor approve? Does reading someone else's journal send you straight to hell?

"Kate," someone whispered.

I jumped five feet in the air, not sure if I should feel guilty or not. "Jesse?"

He sat down next to me. "Taylor's journal. You decided to read it?"

I chewed the insides of my cheek. "I don't know yet." I sniffed, thoughtful. "Does this cancel out my Get-Into-Heaven-Free coupon?"

Jesse nudged me with his shoulder. "You're a good person, Kate. You're kind. You made it through cancer. I think that entitles you to something crazy just this once."

I sniffed again, then relaxed my shoulders. Damn it, I was going to read Taylor's journal. If I was condemned to hell, oh well. As a teenager, I'd never gotten to do anything reckless. Here was my chance.

I took a deep breath, flipped to the marked page, and started reading.

Dear Journal,

I met this girl today. . .

___

That's all, folks! Last chapter. I sure hope you guys liked my story. I know I had so much fun writing it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of my readers-- to those who commented, I loved reading your feedback. Your comments encouraged me to keep going. I hope you all stay tuned for more of my stories! Bless you!

-girlnextdoor14