NOTES: So, here's the official first chapter! I know it's been a LONG time since I've updated, so I hope y'all are still interested. :)

Chapter 1

In the bait shop on Saturday, Carter sighed and bent over, grabbing another bucket of worms and heaving it up onto the topmost shelf. She'd only been working for about half an hour. She'd made a quick count of the buckets already stacked and went to grab some more when she saw they were running a little low.

"Need a hand?" Carter turned around to see her father standing in the doorway. She nodded and he came up beside her, gently pushing her back so he could take over. The silence between them was comfortable as Joe took over Carter's job and began loading the shelves with buckets.

"Carter," he said, as Carter started walking to the cash register. "I have something to tell you." And of course, Carter stopped and turned to him, waiting for him to tell her. She watched as he took a deep breath and stood up straighter. Whatever it was clearly wasn't good.

"What's wrong?" she demanded. "Something's wrong!"

Joe grinned and shook his head. "No," he said. "Nothing's wrong, I promise. I have news." Carter still looked concerned. "Good news," he tacked on. "Carter…Mikayla's coming home!"

Carter's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe her ears. Mikayla? No way. Mikayla was in Los Angeles and had been for two years. And, as far as Carter was concerned, she could stay there forever. Things were peaceful without that dang drama queen always around. Carter had a room to herself and could get her homework done without distraction.

"You've got to be kidding me." Carter glared at her father and crossed her arms over her chest, determined not to believe what he'd said.

"Carter," Joe said sternly. "I expect you to behave. She's as much a part of this family as you are." He turned around, grabbed a plastic bucket full of worms off the ground, and heaved it up onto the top shelf.

Carter scoffed. "Sure," she muttered. She stood in the middle of the bait shop, watching her father, waiting for him to say more. He was quiet for a while, carefully loading the new buckets of bait onto their proper shelves.

Finally, Joe turned and met his daughter's eyes. He crossed the room to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Look, pal. I know you're upset with her. But she's coming home, soon, and you're gonna have to work it out. I'm not asking you to just forget anything right now. You can handle things on your own time. I am going to ask you to at least be civil. She's your sister."

Carter sighed and looked down at her feet. "Carter, promise me," Joe said.

"I'll be nice," Carter said grudgingly, shuffling away from her father's grasp. "Just don't expect us to be best buddies."

Joe smiled. That was enough for him. Though he definitely hadn't expected this reaction, Carter was a smart girl. If there was a problem – which there clearly seemed to be – he was confident that there was good reason for it and that she would deal with things in her own way. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into a big bear hug, which she half-heartedly fought against before melting into it.

"Thanks pal," he murmured, kissing the top of his daughter's head.

Carter grunted in acknowledgement, moving out of Joe's arms. "When's she getting in?"

"Tomorrow at two o'clock," Joe answered promptly.

"Do I have to go with you to the airport?"

"It would be nice."

"Fine," Carter groaned. "Maybe I'll come with." Muttering under her breath, she fled behind the counter, plopping down on her stool and popping open the register drawer. Joe chuckled. If "maybe" was all he could get, then that was what he would take. He walked up to the counter, patted Carter's head, and walked away, feeling her glare on his back as he left to check his nets.

****

When the sun set that evening, Carter was sitting on the edge of the dock behind the house, dangling her feet over the edge. The sun set always reminded her of her mother. When she and Mikayla were young, their mother would bring them out here to watch the sunsets on nice summer nights. She would sit between the two girls and put one arm around each of them. Carter had relished those moments. Even as a child, she had felt completely at peace. The effect, even four years later, hadn't changed.

This dock was her safe haven, her connection to her mother. Sometimes, when she was upset or in need of advice her father couldn't give her, she would come out here after sunset and just think things over, praying that maybe her mother would hear her and help her out.

Now was one of those times. She sat quietly, dipping her toes in the lake water. She hadn't seen Mikayla in two years and had barely spoken to her since she had moved away. Once upon a time, Mikayla had been Carter's best friend and her sister. Right now, she was just Carter's sister, an accident of blood. Carter didn't know how to deal with her anymore.

Rosie was Carter's best friend now. Rosie was Carter's whole world, whether she knew it or not.

Carter's cell phone began to ring in her pocket. She checked her watch and smiled as she answered the phone for her daily phone call with Rosie.

"Hello, my darling!" Rosie chirped. "I miss you!"

Carter chuckled, dragging her big toe over the surface of the water. "I miss you, too, Rosie. How was your day today?"

That got Rosie going for a little while. Carter stayed on the line, only half-listening to her best friend's voice. The other half of her was stuck in her head, remembering all that had gone wrong with Mikayla…

"Carter? Are you listening to me?"

Carter blinked. "Um, no. Sorry, I got a little lost in my head. What'd you say?"

"I said I will be coming to Lake Monroe tomorrow and staying for the holidays!"

Carter's jaw dropped. "You… You're what?" she repeated and her mind raced.

"Oh, Carter, I am so excited! You must tell your father I will be coming into town. You needn't pick me up at the airport; I will have a car bring me to you so I will not burden you or Major Mason. I must go now, my darling I have so much packing to do! I love you, and I will see you soon!"

Carter nearly dropped the phone when she heard the dial tone. Rosie would be coming into town. Tomorrow. On the one hand, that was definitely a good thing. In fact, it was dang near amazing! Rosie had been certain she would be tied down for the holidays, obligated to attend the traditional Christmas festivities in Costa Luna. The fact that she had managed to get away was a miracle.

On the other hand, this was terrible timing. Mikayla would be coming home tomorrow as well. Carter didn't know the time Rosie's flight would be arriving and wasn't sure who would get to Louisiana first. Rosie knew nothing about Mikayla. Carter and Joe didn't mention her much and the subject had just never come up when Rosie was around.

But now, Carter hoped to God Rosie would get in before Mikayla. At least then, she would have time to explain things to her friend and apologize. She wondered if Rosie would be very upset with her. She hoped not. It wasn't that big of a deal, after all. It was just a sister…that neither she nor Joe, two people Rosie trusted absolutely, had never even mentioned to her.

Carter quickly stood up and raced down the dock and toward the house.

Yeah. This wasn't going to go very well.