Hello all! Since most of this story is already written, I'm planning to post it very quickly (hopefully I will be updating it every 1-2 days).

Della Street trudged up the long, steep drive, her heavy suitcase in hand. The June sun beat down mercilessly upon her and the dry wind blasted her cheeks and hair, but she had not expected it to be otherwise during this time of year. She knew the climate of this part of California far too well.

The white farmhouse with its green shutters came into view as she dragged herself up the hill. It looked exactly as it had on the day she had left it, over four years ago. Come to think of it, the farmhouse had probably barely changed since her great-grandfather built it eight decades before, when the town of Treeland was in its infancy.

Taking deep breaths, she continued her trek, grateful that she had had the presence of mind to wear a light cotton print dress.

The gravel crunched beneath her sandals. As she drew nearer the house, a middle-aged woman came into view; she was standing at the side of the building, hanging damp laundry on a clothesline. Hearing the sound of Della's footsteps she turned, and holding up a hand to shield her eyes from the bright rays of the sun, squinted to see who her visitor was.

Della paused in her walk. Taking a deep breath, she said,

"Hello, Mom."

"DELLA!" the woman exclaimed, breaking into a run. Within seconds, she held her daughter in her arms and squeezed her tightly. Then, Mrs. Street drew back, and cupped the younger woman's cheeks in both her hands, studying her face joyously. "You're finally home!"

"Yes, I am finally home," Della said in a flat voice which had a note of defeat in it. "I'm home for good." She paused, and then, bravely looking directly into her mother's eyes, added, "If you would like to say 'I told you so', I'll listen and not protest."

Mrs. Street shook her head and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

"No, my child, from the looks of you, you have been punished enough. I am just glad that you have decided to make the right decision, at last, and are home." She reached and took the suitcase from her daughter's hand, and wrapping her arm tightly around her shoulders, began to walk her towards the house. "Come inside. Your sister is here, and your father and your youngest brother will be back soon."

After they had walked forward together a few feet, Mrs. Street called out merrily,

"Maggie, your sister is home!"

A freckled girl of twelve appeared in the doorway. She soon proved her boldness and friendliness by crying out,

"Della! I am so glad you are here!" and dashing towards her sister without the slightest hesitation, completely disregarding the fact that there were fifteen years of difference between their ages, and that the vast majority of their communications for the last four years had been through letters and occasional phone calls. Indeed, the last time they had seen each other had been well over a year ago, during Christmas, when Della and the rest of her family had all visited Aunt Lucy in Nevada at the same time.

"Maggie, you have grown!" Della exclaimed in awe, as her sister wrapped her arms around her waist and squeezed her. "You are at least three inches taller than when I saw you last!"

"Pretty soon I will be as tall as you!" the younger girl giggled.

"Yes, I think you will!"

"Maggie, Della is going to be living with us from now on," their mother informed her youngest child.

"Really?" The girl looked up at her sibling for confirmation, a curious mixture of eagerness and slight disappointment on her face.

"Yes, that is right."

"Welcome home, then," Maggie said with a smile, selflessly pushing any other feelings she might have about the re-addition to the family, away.

They entered the house. Everything was just like Della remembered it – even Meowie, the family cat, was lying and sunning herself on the same windowsill that she had favored four years previously.

Della had hoped that Treeland would be changeless. It would make it easier to forget that she had just spent four years away from home …and three of them working for Perry…her handsome, wonderful Perry!

Instantly, Della surreptitiously bit her tongue to punish herself for her wandering thoughts.

There you go again, Della Street, she mentally chided herself. You have to have more discipline! He is NOT your Perry. And you did not just endure an uncomfortable eight-hour journey on a bus for your mind to remain in Los Angeles!

"Dinner will be ready in about an hour, my dear," Mrs. Street said. "Your old room is waiting for you – why don't you freshen up and rest a bit before it?"

"Thank you, Mom, I will," Della said, repossessing her suitcase.

Turning towards the narrow staircase, she repressed a sigh.

Uh-oh…what has happened to our confident, spunky Della?!

Please review!