"RAE IS ON HER WAY. RAE IS ON HER WAY. I REPEAT, RAE. IS. ON. HER. WAY." Julie screeches, running through the house.
"Rae?" Gracie asks from her highchair.
"Yes Gracie Belle, Rae. She's your other big sister. Do you remember Rae?" Julie asks, kissing her little sister's head.
"No." Gracie says stoutly.
"Yes you do, quit playing around with me." Julie says, nuzzling her nose with Gracie's.
"No. No. No." Gracie chants.
"No, say Rae. Rae. Rae." Julie tells her and Gracie makes a face. "C'mon, say Rae. She liked you even when I didn't." Julie informs her.
"Jules!" Mrs. Taylor chides.
"Well, it's true." Julie says flatly. "I was not a fan of Gracie when she was a baby and it's a good thing Rae was."
"Well maybe don't tell your baby sister that." Mrs. Taylor says.
"Did I hear that right?" Coach asks, poking his head out of the bathroom. "Is Rae coming back to little Dillon?"
"She is." Julie confirms. "She'll be here in like ten minutes, maybe less. You know how she drives."
"Like a maniac on a mission." He says fondly.
"Is she bringing Carden back with her?" Mrs. Taylor asks and Julie raises an eyebrow.
"Mom, is it possible to have one without the other?" She points out and Mrs. Taylor shrugs.
"Well I didn't know if he has stuff to do in Minnesota. You know what? I'm so proud of her. Finishing school and in three years nonetheless. Got her degree. And Carden, I hear he's doing huge things up there. State hockey?" Mrs. Taylor asks quizzically and Julie shrugs.
"It's hockey. She's always excited, so I just pretend to go with it." Julie says with a laugh.
"Rae?" Gracie pips up curiously and Julie nods.
"Yeah, Rae. I'm so excited to see her Gracie." Julie says, plucking her out of her highchair.
"Does she know that you and Matt are engaged?" Coach asks her pointedly and Julie rolls her eyes.
"Of course, she was only the first person I called. I think I heard her all the way from Minnesota, she shrieked that loud." Julie informs them. "Then she threatened to kick my ass and made me promise to let her pick out her bridesmaid dress and a lot of other things."
"What are your plans for the weekend?" Mrs. Taylor asks.
"Oh you know, go back, tour the old Dillon High. Hit up the Alamo Freeze. Maybe go have a few beers, spend an hour or two at the landing strip." Julie rattles off and Mrs. Taylor narrows her eyes. "I don't know mom!" She protests. "It's Dillon, there's not much to do!"
"Well I just think that since Rae hasn't been back in three years, you might want to show her everything that's changed." She advises and Julie looks at her in disbelief. "What?"
"Mom, it's Dillon. Nothing changes. Matt and I are only back because we need to help you guys pack up for your big move to Philly." She says and Mrs. Taylor looks around at the chaos in the living room.
"Yeah, we gotta pack." She says, running a hand through her hair. "Honey, can you hurry up in there and help me pack?" She calls.
"Well, maybe I'm packing the bathroom!"
There's a knock on the door and all three heads turn. Even Coach sticks his head out the door. Then Julie shoves Gracie towards her mother and sprints for the door, all while hollering,
"RAE!" She yanks the door open and is promptly tackled by a screaming Rae, both of them squealing at a volume that makes Coach put his hand over his ears. Carden steps over them calmly, waving.
"Hey Mr. and Mrs. Taylor." He says, smiling and offering his hand. Mrs. Taylor stares at him in shock.
"Oh my… Look at how tall he is. Carden, last time I saw you, you didn't even clear Rae!" She says, astonished. "How tall are you?"
"Well, I passed her a long time ago." He says with a smile, offering his hand. "I'm 6'2 now."
"That's a firm handshake son." Coach says, impressed.
"I learned from the best." He says warmly and Coach smiles.
"Would you two get up?" Mrs. Taylor yells. "Rae, come over here, I need a proper look at you!" Rae scrambles up and runs for her, grabbing her into a hug with the familiarity of a mother and daughter.
"Hi Mrs. Taylor!" She squeals, rocking back and forth.
"Who is this woman? Who is this woman? What in the world, how did you go and get all grown up?" She demands, holding Rae at arm's length and expecting her thoroughly. Rae has her same twinkling blue eyes and long blonde hair, though it's curlier. She's still the same athletic build that she's always been, though perhaps not as lean as her high school days.
"I'm not that grown up, I'm still that same 18 year old who was in your office half the time senior year." She promises.
"No, no. You are all grown up and I am so proud of you." Mrs. Taylor says, holding Rae's cheek. She blushes.
"Thank you. I could not have done it without you." She insists and Mrs. Taylor pats her cheek. "Is that my Gracie Belle?" She demands and Gracie turns suddenly shy, hiding her face in Mrs. Taylor's neck.
"Gracie, why are you so shy?" Julie questions. "C'mon, say hi to Rae." She orders and Gracie peeks out.
"Rae." She says cautiously and Rae smiles, wiggling her fingers. Gracie smiles and reaches for her. Rae scoops her up, beaming.
"C'mere Carden. How's school? I heard you're making a pretty impressive name for yourself in hockey." Coach says and Carden smiles, nodding.
"Yeah, we're doing good, I'm excited for next year. Lot of time on the ice, I'm hoping I can have a good look at playing for Duluth." He admits and Rae smiles proudly, leaning her head on Julie's.
"Well damn son, that's great." Coach insists. "Are you playing any football up there in Minnesota? I would've liked to coach you." He says and Carden goes off on a tangent, detailing his past football seasons.
"Rae, you did great." Mrs. Taylor says quietly.
"There were times when I didn't think I was doing any good." She admits quietly. "It hasn't been the easiest of times. We've fought a lot, lots of slamming doors and tears at midnight and 'I'm sorry' pancakes in the morning. He said some things I thought I should slap him for but he's a good boy. It's his senior year and he's getting college offers. He's gonna be ok and I am too. This is the first time I've been in Dillon and I've felt like I can breathe." She reflects.
"Mais, is it ok if I go visit some of the guys? Joey and Brett, you know." Carden asks, as they finish supper. She raises an eyebrow.
"Sure bud. Whatever you want to do. You know what hotel we're staying at, right?" She asks and he nods. "Alright, go for it."
"Mrs. Taylor, Coach, thank you for this delicious supper." He says gratefully. "I hope I'll see you tomorrow."
"Carden of course. Anytime. You come back tomorrow, I want to hear all about your college options and your plans." Mrs. Taylor insists and Carden nods, kissing Rae's head.
"Where do you want to go?" Julie asks Rae and she shrugs.
"How about the high school or the Alamo Freeze? Maybe the landing strip, that's always a good choice." She muses and Julie raises an eyebrow in the direction of her mother, as if to say I-told-you-so.
"Oh go on." Mrs. Taylor says, waving a hand. "Go, go. Do whatever it is that you girls do. Rae, I expect to see you here for each meal. I want you in my house, I want to hear everything." She orders.
"Of course, Jules warned me I would be gang pressed into the Taylor household packing force." She says with a sweet smile.
"Go, before I make you stay." She threatens teasingly and Rae and Julie dash out the door, gossiping and laughing.
AN: Well, she's back... Wonder where she'll go next? We're winding down guys and I just want to say thank you to everyone that had read, you make life a lot brighter. Please, please, please review!