Day Twenty-Six

I'm beginning to understand my mother. She was always the first one up, and the last to go to bed; she cooked all our meals, bought all our clothes, did all the chores.

She did it with a smile, never letting us see how tired she was. I'm learning how to do that. When Charlie and I lived in the city, we split the responsibilities. But there's something about being back home that's changed things.

I've got one of my cousins helping out at Dad's store. It helps. She's smart, and good with money, and the whole town loves her.

My birthday is tomorrow. We're not celebrating. I'm half-sick of birthdays, anyway.

Day Twelve

I took Jana down to the river this morning. She loves the water, and I was glad for the chance to take a break from everyone for a while.

Grace Beale was there. We never really got along, in school, but now that we're both mothers (she has twin daughters and a son) we've got more in common than we ever did before. She's a lot nicer than I remember, too.

Although after talking to her, my social calendar is a lot busier than I wanted it to be. I'm expected to show up at her book club meeting next week, and I think I may have agreed to be on the PTA a few years too early. Jana's not even two yet.

Day Eleven

I walked around town today. It hasn't been that long since Charlie and I left, but it seems like everything has changed. Miss Sally's formal shop is just gone - she told me it burned down last year. I bought my wedding dress there...

Mr. Phillips' drugstore is a cafe now. He retired recently, and his son runs the business out of a new, smaller building. Jack's nowhere near as friendly as his daddy was.

There are more people, too. I don't like it. Silver Creek used to be a quiet place.

Mama and Daddy aren't doing too well. I'd hoped this would be a temporary situation, but it looks like we'll be here for a while. And my brother - oh, Luke. I'd hoped he could replace what he stole, but I should've known it wouldn't be that easy.

Day Ten

We're settled in, finally. I haven't had a minute to myself in days.

Charlie can't shut up about how he's glad to be back, as if the past four years have been terrible for him. Sure, the city was less than pleasant, but that was the life we chose when we left here.

I knew I'd have to return someday, but I wasn't expecting it to be this soon.

Day One

Charlie suggested I do this. Something about organizing my thoughts. I don't know why I agreed; I just hope this isn't setting a precedent. I love him, but I never listen to a word he says because most of the time it's just his chatter.

Right now he's asleep, and so is Jana - our little girl. I should be sleeping, too, but I'm just so scared and upset.

See, we're going home; I haven't had to go anywhere by train since Charlie and I moved away.

My brother is in jail - again - and it doesn't look good for him. My father is sick and someone needs to take over the family store. My mother is sick and someone needs to keep the house in order.

There are so many things I need to get done before we even reach our old hometown...and right now there's seven hundred miles between us and all the memories.