Operation Rescue - The New Co-Ed; Chapter 21 free porn video

Operation Rescue: The New Co-Ed By ElrodW A young man gets in trouble and loses his scholarship. It looks like his dream of college to escape a poor future is doomed - until he sees an ad recruiting 'surrogates'. His life is about to change in ways that could redefine him in ways he could have never imagined. Chapter 21 - Christmas Sara and Tommi spend their first Christmas as sisters - and as orphans, with no real home of their own. The 'Operation Rescue' story universe and characters contained therein are copyright 2012 by ElrodW, all rights reserved. Use of the story universe or characters with the express written permission of the owner is a violation of copyright law. ********************************************************************** Sara lay face-down on Tommi's bed, one arm draped lazily over the edge of the bed. Her head was turned toward Katie's bed across the room, but she wasn't really looking at Katie or Tommi. Her eyes seemed glazed, unfocused. "I don't know," she said sadly. "Trust me," Tommi reassured Sara. "It'll be a great break." "I _know_ you'll have a great time," Katie added. "You're probably right," Sara replied unenthusiastically, "but it just feels ... wrong." Katie moved over to sit on the edge of Tommi's bed and put her hand gently on Sara's shoulder. "I know it's tough, but it'll be good for you." Sara didn't respond at first. She rolled over and sat up. "I need to think some," she said as she scooted her feet off the bed to the floor. Tommi read her little sister's mood. "Do you want to take a walk?" she suggested. Sara looked at Tommi and slowly nodded. Tommi jumped to her feet and offered her hand to Sara to help her stand. "You're going to need a coat," she suggested. Sara nodded slowly. "I'll be right back," she said as she turned toward the door. As soon as the door closed, Katie sighed. "She's pretty depressed," she observed. Tommi nodded. "Yeah. This is her first Christmas away from home, not that she even _has_ a home to go to any more." "I know she'll be welcome with my parents," Katie said reassuringly. "And I know she'll have a great time." "Yeah, I know," Tommi agreed. "But Sara's still got some grief and loss to work through. It's going to be a tough holiday for her." "You _both_ do," Katie sighed. "You need to let me know what you're going to do, so I can let my folks know if you're coming." In a couple of minutes, Sara returned. Tommi slipped on a coat and walked to the door. "We'll be back in a bit." Katie glanced at both of them. "Remember, you've got finals to study for," she commented, sounding like a scolding mother. "Yes, ma'am," Tommi replied in a mockingly deferential tone. Katie glared at her and threw a pencil Tommi's way. Giggling, Tommi ducked out the door quickly as the pencil ricocheted off the wall. The night air was brisk, a hint of the winter's full force, which hadn't yet arrived. The girls walked slowly toward the student center building. "You're nervous about going home with Katie, aren't you?" Tommi prompted. Sara nodded. Her eyes were moist, and she had a lump in her throat. "It doesn't seem right," she said sadly. They treat you like family, and I'm really, honestly happy for you," she continued, "but ...." She shook her head as she wiped at a tear. "I just don't know..." "Sara," Tommi began, "I _do_ know it's hard to think about being away from home at holidays. But you have to think about what we _didn't_ have! We never had a happy Christmas-card holiday! Not since Dad ...." Tommi felt a lump in her own throat. She wasn't sure she remembered a happy holiday time even _before_ their dad had died. "I know," Sara said sadly. "But it was home." "No, it wasn't," Tommi retorted. "It never was _home_! It was always a house with people who didn't like each other!" She felt herself flinch at the memory of the pain of her last visit home for Christmas. Sara let her head hang, her eyes almost closed, as she nodded slowly. "I know. I mean, I know the rational part, but ..." Tommi wrapped her arm around Sara's shoulder. "I understand. The emotional part is tough. Last year, even knowing that Ma and Liz would probably not accept me, I still had some hope that things might be different, that Christmas might be special for once." She shook her head sadly. "It's hard to give up hope." "Now there's no hope at all," Sara sniffled. "I'll never have a family Christmas to remember." Tommi stopped and wrapped her arms around Sara. "Yes, you will," she replied. "You have family. You have _me_! And if it's just you and me, I promise you we'll have the most wonderful Christmas you ever had!" Sara looked up at her sister, her eyes moist with tears. "Yeah," she said softly. "We've got each other." She let her gaze drop back to the sidewalk. "For now," she added softly. ********** Tommi glanced into the back seat one more time. "Will you stop fidgeting?" she insisted. Sara sighed. "I can't help it," she replied. "I'm nervous." "Which is making you more nervous, your sister's driving, or meeting my folks?" Katie laughed. That got a laugh from Sara. "If I say it's Tommi's driving, I'll be in big trouble." Tommi made a turn onto Katie's street, and then into the driveway. As Katie was reaching for the remote, the garage door opened, revealing Ronnie and Roger standing, his arm around her waist, smiling at the girls. Both were dressed casually, since it was around dinner time, unlike their last arrival at nearly midnight. Tommi was glad that they'd have some time to relax before bedtime. As soon as Tommi stopped the car, and before she could even shut off the engine, Katie was out of the car and bounding to her mother's arms for a hug. Tommi stuck her head out the window. "We're here," she said unnecessarily. She gave Sara a quick smile. "Let's go." Tommi pulled out the key and opened her door, swinging her feet to the driveway. She glanced at Sara again. "Come on," she urged. "You'll love Roger and Ronnie." Sara anxiously pushed the seat back forward and clambered from the rear seat. She was so jumpy it felt like she was being squeezed and couldn't breathe. It didn't help her nerves to see Roger give Tommi a warm embrace and a quick fatherly peck on her cheek. She felt like an alien, an intruder in a place where she didn't belong. Tommi and Katie fit in well, but in her mind, she was an outsider, no matter how many times Katie and Tommi had reassured her. She stood by the door, feeling more alone than she had ever felt, watching Tommi talking enthusiastically with Roger. "You must be Sara," a warm voice sounded beside Sara. "I'm Ronnie, Katie's mom. I'm so glad you girls are here." Sara turned to Ronnie, surprised. "Uh, yeah, thanks," she stammered. She extended her hand toward Ronnie. Ronnie smiled and wrapped Sara in a hug. "You don't think I'm going to welcome you with a simple handshake, do you?" Sara felt confused. Ronnie was treating her very well, but Sara still felt out of place. Ronnie released her embrace and took a step back as Roger came to her side. "Hi, Sara," Roger said warmly as he clasped Sara's hand. "I'm glad to meet you." "How about we go inside," Ronnie interrupted. "Roger, can you please take the girls' things to their rooms?" Katie reacted immediately, returning to her car. "Aw, Mom," she protested, "quit picking on Dad. We're capable of carrying our own luggage!" "Now, Pumpkin," Roger protested, "you girls have had a long trip. Go inside and relax a bit. I can get your things." Tommi gave Ronnie a quick protesting look, but she gave up when she saw Ronnie's stern visage. "Okay," she said. She walked around the car and took Sara's hand. "Let's go, before we get in trouble for trying to be _more_ helpful!" Roger grinned, but Ronnie scowled. "Besides, _you're_ pregnant," she added sternly. "While you're in this house, you're not going to do _any_ heavy lifting, got it?" Tommi looked suitably chastised, so Ronnie took her hand to lead them inside. As they walked into the house, Tommi was watching Sara. Tommi knew that, just like when she first visited, Sara was going to experience some significant culture shock. None of their old friends back home lived in houses even remotely this comfortable. It was opulent by the standards of a poor mining town, and yet, it was normal for Ronnie, Roger, and Katie. In fact, it was a normal middle-class home anywhere _except_ in a poor mining community. Sara's nose was tickled by a wonderful aroma wafting from the kitchen. Her eyes closed, as she inhaled the delicious smells, pausing to linger over them. Ronnie noticed Sara's action and smiled. "I've got dinner and dessert in the oven. It's nothing fancy, just tarragon chicken with scalloped potatoes, mixed vegetables, and caramel pecan rolls for dessert." Sara's eyes widened. "That's nothing fancy?" she exclaimed in astonishment. Tommi laughed. "If we're lucky, we'll get Italian one night while we're here. Ronnie's lasagna is to _die_ for!" Ronnie seemed ready to blush. "Oh, Tommi, you make it sound like I'm some kind of gourmet chef!" She turned to Sara, pooh-poohing Tommi's comment. "It's nothing special; just a few recipes that I throw together." Tommi's mouth was watering at the thought of Ronnie's cooking. As they sat down in the family room, Tommi couldn't help asking, "Will you please make some turtle cake while we're here? Please?" She was nearly begging. Ronnie smiled. "No," she answered, taking delight in watching Tommi's face fall. "But I _will_ help you girls _learn_ how to make it!" "Deal!" Tommi agreed without thinking. She turned to Sara. "You're going to _love_ Ronnie's desserts!" Sara still felt out of place. She found herself jealous of Ronnie's fun interaction with Tommi. "Remember, you're on a diet!" she reminded Tommi, her voice devoid of enthusiasm. "I'm sure you girls would like to freshen up after that long drive," Ronnie suggested as the girls walked down the hall toward the bedrooms. "Tommi, you've got your usual room, if that's okay." She turned to Sara. "I put you in my hobby room. Well, it's kind of a hobby room and second spare bedroom. I hope you like it." She gestured into the room. Sara gasped as she looked into the room. To her, it was huge - bigger than even her parents' bedroom back home. One wall had a fold-down bed, made up with white bed linen, and several throw pillows in different shades of pink for accent. Matching curtains, lacy and pretty, adorned the windows, adding a nice feminine touch to the general pink and white theme of the room. Beside the bed was a nightstand with a lamp and clock-radio. Opposite the bed, a sewing and crafts table stood, with shelves above and below, all picture-perfectly neat and organized. "This is the spare room?" she asked, astonished. "I hope it'll be okay," Ronnie said, sounding a bit worried that Sara wasn't ecstatic about her room. "Okay?" Sara stammered. "I've never had a room this beautiful! Are you sure it's for me? I don't want you to go to any trouble!" Tommi, in the hall, smiled to herself. Sara was getting the full "Ronnie" treatment of hospitality; it was only a matter of time before Sara was completely at ease and relaxing. "And your bathroom is through that door," Ronnie added. "You mean," Sara sputtered, her mouth hanging open in surprise, "I've got my own bathroom? No sharing?" "No sharing," Ronnie answered with a smile. Sara shook her head as she took it all in. Part of her felt like she was being lured into a trap, sweetness and honey calming her before the bitter trap was sprung. But part of her was touched beyond anything she'd experienced. She glanced past Ronnie at Tommi. "That's probably the best part - not having to share a bathroom with the queen of slow." Tommi tried to force a scowl through her smile. "It's not my fault I'm slow," she protested weakly. "I haven't had as much practice as a girl!" Ronnie laughed. "Well, you don't have to share while you're visiting." "I can't believe you have enough rooms so we can all have separate ones!" Sara exclaimed softly. Tommi and Katie shot Sara warning glances, but she missed their cues. Ronnie sighed. "We _were_ planning to have a larger family," she said by way of explanation. "Before ...." Her voice trailed off and her lower lip trembled. Tommi was closest; she wrapped Ronnie in a hug to comfort her at the uncomfortable memories, while Sara stood, confused, wondering what she'd said. Ronnie disengaged from Tommi's brief hug, giving her a silent 'thank you'. She turned back to Sara. Katie decided to change the subject - quickly. "Dad made most of the furniture here - and in the other bedrooms." Sara's eyes widened. "Your dad made all this?" "Yup," Katie said proudly. "Wow! I wish I knew how to do things like that!" Sara exclaimed softly. Ronnie smiled. "Maybe we'll have time for Roger to give you some lessons in woodworking," she offered. "I better go check on dinner, while you girls get ready." She turned and strode back toward the kitchen, humming a happy tune as she walked. In a few moments, Roger came into Sara's room carrying her suitcase. "You don't pack nearly as much as I expected a girl would," he observed. "Yeah," Sara nodded slowly. "I don't need a lot. Besides, it's not like I have dozens of outfits to wear every day." There was no hint of bitterness in her acknowledgement that she was a poor girl from a poor background. "Well, I bet Ronnie would love to help you find a new outfit or two," Roger suggested cheerfully. "I understand you made all the furniture," Sara changed the subject. Roger shrugged meekly. "I try. Some of it comes out okay." "Okay? This looks ... fabulous! I wish I knew how to do that!" Roger smiled at the compliment. "If you'd like, I can help you make a small project for your dorm room; something simple to start with, of course." Sara tried to think of the last time one of her parents had offered to help her learn a new skill. She couldn't remember even once. "That would be ... nice," she said hesitantly. The whole experience was turning surreal for her; she wondered if she wasn't going to wake up and find it was all a dream. "Well, we'd better get to the table. I know you girls are hungry, and Ronnie doesn't like to serve cold food!" As Sara sat down, she felt overwhelmed - again. From the table to the place settings to the serving dishes, it seemed more like fine restaurant fare than a simple family meal. Tommi read the expression on her sister's face. "You're not dreaming," she whispered to Sara. "Shhh," Katie hissed at Tommi. Tommi turned back toward the table, noticed that Ronnie and Roger were preparing for grace, and bowed her head obligingly, straightening her posture as she did so. Once the blessing was over, Ronnie began serving, starting with Tommi's plate. Sara was perplexed; she was used to a very informal, self-serve, pot-passing style of dining, but that wasn't happening, at least not for Tommi. Ronnie was happily trying to put more food on the plate than Tommi wanted; evidently, she had a different idea about how much Tommi should eat than Tommi did. Tommi had to insist _twice_ that her plate was full enough. After handing the plate back to Tommi, Ronnie glanced at Sara, who sat, not familiar with the routine. Tommi nudged Sara to catch her attention and nodded toward Ronnie. Sara looked toward Ronnie, and saw that she was looking at her, smiling, and holding out her hand to take Sara's plate. Slightly embarrassed, Sara handed her plate to Ronnie, and then went through the same routine as Tommi, insisting that she wasn't _that_ hungry, while Ronnie kept trying to serve her more chicken and potatoes. As soon as she got the plate back, Sara started to reach for her fork, but she noticed that Tommi was still sitting with her hands in her lap. Sara let her hand drop back to her lap and waited, feeling a little sheepish. Finally, everyone was served, and only after Ronnie took a bite did Sara begin to eat. The formality of dining at Katie's house was, Sara realized, going to take some getting used to. Feeling famished after a long drive with no stops for food, Sara dug in. "Wow!" she exclaimed softly as she savored the chicken. "This is _good_!" Katie grinned. "Told you." "What? This?" Ronnie asked, seemingly astonished that Sara was complimenting her cooking. "It's just something I threw together at the last minute!" "Wait 'til you try the caramel rolls!" Tommi exclaimed, practically drooling at the thought of a caramel roll fresh from the oven. "Oh, pshaw! You girls make it sound like you're eating at a five-star restaurant!" Ronnie discounted their compliments with a faint blush. "Well," Roger added playfully, "I might be a little biased, but I always thought you were a great cook." Sara ate silently, entertained by the jocular dialog, but also feeling strangely sad. The happiness and warmth of this family's dining style was foreign to her, and it accentuated what she'd missed while she was growing up. "So, have you picked a major yet, Sara?" Roger asked her. "What?" Sara realized she'd been asked a question and refocused her thoughts. "Oh, not yet. I'll probably go into something with medicine. Maybe a nurse or a physician's assistant." "Or a doctor, maybe?" Ronnie suggested. "The way Tommi keeps bragging about you, it's pretty obvious that you're smart enough to go to med school." Sara shrugged. "A couple of other people have suggested that I might be a good doctor." It was painfully obvious that Sara wasn't in a very conversational mood, despite continued attempts by everyone else at the table. After a while, it was clear that everyone was done eating. Tommi rose and picked up her plate, then reached to take Ronnie's empty plate as well. Ronnie recoiled in horror. "You sit back down, young lady," she commanded. "While my girls are on vacation, they're going to relax, not work themselves with chores!" she said, smiling while sounding stern. Sara saw the looks on Katie's and Tommi's faces, smiles of fun and familial warmth. She suddenly knew she was out of place, an intruder, not welcomed with the same love as Tommi received. Tommi _was_ part of the family. Sara wasn't; she was alone. As tears started, she bolted from the table and fled down the hall. Roger and Ronnie looked at each other, stunned, wondering if they'd said or done anything which had caused Sara's emotional breakdown. "Sara!" Tommi called as she started to stand. She started to push her chair back, but Katie intervened. Katie knew _exactly_ what had happened. "I'll go talk to Sara." "But ...." Katie shook her head. "_I'll_ go talk to her. I think Sara and I are _way_ overdue for have a long talk." ********** Katie's knock sounded on the door again. "Sara, may I come in?" Sara lay on the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was crying softly, the sound muffled by the pillow in which she'd buried her face. When there was no answer, Katie opened the door a crack. "Sara? Are you okay?" Sara acted like she hadn't heard Katie; she lay still, except for the faint tremors of her sobbing. Katie padded softly to the bed and sat on the edge, reaching to gingerly touch Sara on the shoulders. "Are you okay?" Sara shook her head feebly as she continued crying. "I think I know what's bothering you," Katie ventured. "You're feeling left out, like Tommi belongs, but you don't, right?" Sara's nod confirmed what Katie had both feared and expected. "I kind of figured that was it," Katie said softly. "But you shouldn't feel that way." Sara barely moved from her position. "Tommi has ... a home! But I don't! I'm an ... orphan! I don't belong _anywhere_!" she wailed. Katie nodded knowingly. "I've been wondering when we were going to need to have this talk," she said softly. "It bothers you, at least a little, that I look at Tommi as my little sister, doesn't it?" Sara rolled to her side, looking up at Katie. "No," she fibbed, unconvincingly. "It's ... good for Tommi." Her sniffles and tears continued. Katie smiled sadly. "You're not convincing me," she said softly. "It'd be normal for you to feel a bit jealous. And I know it bothered you a _lot_ when Tommi decided to room with me instead of with you." "Yeah," Sara admitted after a long silence. "It's like ... Tommi is pushing me away! And then we come here - and she's ... she's ... _family_ to you and your parents! And I don't have _anyone_!" Her sobs became loud crying, tears flowing, as her emotional dam burst. Katie continued to rub Sara's back, while she gently wiped tears from Sara's cheek. "It's okay," she repeated over and over. "No one is taking your place. No one can! Tommi loves you more than you know! How often did Tommi call you last year and during the summer? And when you weren't easy to get ahold of, didn't she buy you a cell phone so she could always be able to reach you? She's _so_ proud of you. Last semester, she was _always_ talking about you! She was so excited when you were accepted! She _loves_ you! She's your sister!" Sara's tears slowed as she listened to Katie. "I guess," she said half- heartedly. "There's no guessing about it," Katie replied sharply. "That's something special between you and Tommi. Nobody, including me and my parents, could ever come between the two of you." Sara rolled onto her back. She looked up at Katie for a long time, her eyes red and her cheeks streaked with tears, as she contemplated what Katie had said. "I ... suppose," she said softly, as if admitting the truth to herself. "She'd do _anything_ for you!" Katie re-iterated. "Like carry a second baby so I could afford college," Sara muttered to herself. "What?" Katie's eyes widened with surprise. After a moment, Sara smiled faintly. "Don't try to deny it," she said. "I _know_ what Tommi did for me." "But ..." To say that Katie was stunned was an understatement. "You're not a very good actress," Sara continued softly. "It wasn't hard to put the pieces together. Tommi had saved enough money to have the surgery after her first baby and _still_ get through college. She didn't have the operation. I was accepted, but I didn't get the financial aid." "Then suddenly, a foundation that I never heard of gave me a scholarship, without any application on my part." She smiled as she wiped at her still- moist cheeks. "It didn't take long in the library to find out that the source of the scholarship had ties to the Morris Foundation. And then Tommi announced that she was going to stay a girl and host another baby, but her reasoning wasn't exactly ... convincing." She looked at Katie's stunned expression. "How am I doing so far?" Katie sighed. "If you don't go to med school, you should be a detective." Sara sighed. "I know she wanted to help me, and I know she didn't want me to feel indebted to her." "If that's not sisterly love, I don't know what is," Katie said softly. "I would imagine that you were sworn to secrecy, right?" Sara asked. Katie thought for a moment. Was acknowledging the truth the same as betraying Tommi's confidence? Sara had figured it out by herself; Katie hadn't told her anything. She decided to admit the truth and nodded. "She didn't want you to know." "Well, then, the fact that I _do_ know will be our secret, I guess." "Deal." "I love her, and I know she loves me." The sniffles started again. "I'm just ... afraid." "Of what?" "Of losing her - to you and your parents." She wiped at the renewed flow of tears. "And I'm a bit jealous of her." "Because Mom treats her like her own daughter?" Sara nodded sadly. Katie wiped at Sara's tears, then helped her sit up and hugged her. She didn't know how to answer Sara's fears. In fact, Katie had worried that Sara would end up feeling _exactly_ as she had, and Katie knew she couldn't let herself or her parents come between Tommi and Sara, no matter how much Tommi meant to Katie. ********** "I know you said your dad would help, but I don't want to impose," Tommi protested. "Nonsense," Katie replied. "We already talked, and he's looking forward to going." "But ... car shopping is so ... unpleasant!" Tommi was definitely in a bind. Her car was twelve years old and on its last legs; she was starting to feel nervous even driving it to and from the clinic. It leaked oil, sometimes was hard to start, and was starting to get some serious engine vibration. In the last two weeks of the semester, it started rapidly losing power. There wasn't really a question; Tommi knew enough about auto mechanics to know that she _had_ to replace it. "Dad loves cars. Besides, he offered. Now, you're not going to be rude and turn down his offer, are you?" Katie smiled; she knew Tommi was cornered. "I don't know..." "Would you rather go car shopping with Dad, who has some connections around town and can help you get a good car at a good price, or would you prefer car-shopping in a college town where you don't know anyone and will probably get ripped off?" Katie knew she had the trump card with her argument. Tommi sighed, closing her eyes in defeat. "Okay, I guess you're right." "Let's get going, then," Roger interrupted. "I've got a friend in the car business, Don, who's always treated us right. He'll make a good deal on a good car." Roger held the door open for Tommi. Tommi felt a little awkward as she climbed into Roger's car. He drove a red Mercedes two-door sedan that was immaculate; Tommi worried that she was going to scratch the paint just climbing in. Roger noticed her unease. "Relax. It's just a car." "Just a car?" Tommi asked, astonished. "Isn't this an SL?" Roger nodded as he climbed behind the wheel. "You know your cars." Tommi smiled to herself. "I try. Tried. Back when ...." She let the sentence hang. Roger laughed. "There's no reason a girl can't be a car enthusiast. You might be surprised to learn that Katie knows a lot about cars, too." "Knowing this family," Tommi said with a grin, "it doesn't surprise me. It's a 550, right? I _know_ it's not an AMG!" "Very good!" He backed the car out to the street. "So, what are you thinking about for a car?" Tommi had lost herself momentarily in the luxury of the car; the sumptuous leather seats and the sound from the premium stereo were delightful changes from her worn seats, dirty carpet, and tinny-sounding radio. "Huh?" she asked as she snapped from her temporary reverie. "Oh. I guess cheap, and reliable." "You're probably not going to get both," Roger cautioned. "How long are you planning to keep the car?" Tommi shrugged. "I hadn't really thought of that. I'd say at least five years. I figure I should try to get something that will last until I get out of college and have a chance to get established." "Sensible. I see my Pumpkin is having a good influence on you!" Roger laughed. Tommi couldn't help but grin. Roger was delightful, and she felt at complete ease with him. "I try to learn," she admitted. "Okay. Economical, and in good shape. What style? Convertible? Sedan? SUV?" Tommi thought for a moment. "I guess I'm not too picky. I'd _like_ something sporty," she admitted, "like ..." "Like this?" Roger finished her comment. "Yeah, I can see you behind the wheel of a sports car." "But," she continued, "insurance gets pretty pricey. I guess I should be looking for something smaller, to get better mileage. Maybe a hatchback, or a small sedan." She thought again. "I'd _like_ to get something with less than eighty thousand miles, if I can. More than that is asking for trouble." Roger nodded. "Agreed. Have you considered a diesel?" Tommi turned to him sharply, surprised. "No," she admitted. "Back ... in West Virginia, the only diesels were semis, tractors and pickup trucks." She wrinkled her nose. "Right now, I can't see myself climbing up into and out of a truck - especially in another few months!" "You might want to think of a diesel, anyway. A diesel car, I mean. Fuel economy is much better, and if the engine is well cared-for, it should easily last well over two hundred thousand miles." He thought a moment. "I'm going to guess that you won't want to finance a car, either." Tommi shook her head. "Nope. Fortunately, I've got some cash saved from my first contract, so I'm hoping that I won't have to take out a loan." Roger noted how Tommi was enjoying the ride. Without warning, he pulled to the side of the road. "How about we take the long way to the dealership? I can tell that you like the way this handles, so why don't you take the wheel?" Tommi's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. "Are you kidding?" she asked, astonished. "No, not at all!" Roger assured her. "Pumpkin trusts you to drive her car, so you must be competent. And you're enjoying the way this thing handles, so ...." He shut off the ignition and stepped from the car, circling behind it. Eagerly, but with some trepidation, Tommi climbed out and circled to the driver's side. After climbing in, she buckled, checked to see if Roger was set, then she started the car. The roar of the engine was music to her ears. As she started to adjust the mirrors, Roger pushed a button and the top began to retract. "Since the weather is good, we might as well put the top down," he explained unnecessarily. Seeing that Tommi was ready to drive, he continued. "You remember how to get to the freeway?" "Uh, yeah!" Tommi said nervously. "But ... isn't that the wrong way?" Roger put on a fatherly smile. "I told you we'd take the scenic way." ********** "Did you find a car?" Sara asked eagerly as Tommi came into the house. Tommi shook her head. "Almost," she said. She shook her head. "Sheesh, there are a lot of choices in cars." Katie gave Tommi an 'I told you so' look. "Let me guess - you were ready to buy one, but Dad told you to not jump at the first car, but to think about it carefully." Roger, right behind Tommi, laughed. "Actually, Tommi was the one who insisted that she think some more." "Oh," Sara sounded disappointed. "What were you looking at?" Tommi smiled. "I'll tell you in a minute. First, though, I've got a few things I've got to get in from the car." Sara stared, puzzled, but Katie took the hint. "I'm guessing that Tommi took Dad on a little detour for some shopping while they were out, and there's something that's a surprise that we're not supposed to know about." Tommi shrugged, but her smile gave away the truth. "Could be - or not." Katie took Sara's arm. "If Tommi is going to keep secrets from us, maybe _we_ won't tell her what we've been doing all afternoon!" She turned to glance over her shoulder at Tommi, feigning a snobbish tilt of her head. As soon as they were down the hall, Tommi scurried back into the garage and retrieved a few parcels and bags, and then carried them to her room. In a few moments, she was back in the living room. Within thirty seconds, Katie and Sara were back. Even before Sara was seated next to Tommi, she was pressing her questions. "What are you thinking about getting?" Tommi pulled out her cell phone and began to tap the controls. "I really _wish_ I could get something like the SL," she said wistfully. "But on the practical side ..." she got a picture up. "I really like the looks of this one," she said, displaying a photo of a silver Mazda Three hatchback that she'd looked at. "Oooh," Sara said in approval. "That's a cute car!" "But the reliability isn't the best," Tommi noted. She tapped the phone. "The Ford hatchback is almost as good looking, and it's reported to be better quality." "I can see myself borrowing that," Sara said playfully. "I can't," Tommi rebutted quickly, "but it's in the running." She tapped the phone again. "Boring!" Katie hissed. "Maybe," Tommi countered, "but it's a diesel, so it'll last a long time and get good fuel economy." "You sound like a practical old lady!" Sara snorted. "You _really_ don't want to ever borrow my car, do you?" Tommi commented sharply. "What else?" Sara quickly got back to discussing the cars. Tommi flipped to another photo. "They had a BMW 330." The car got instant approval from Sara, but Katie noted Tommi's hesitancy. "What's the story with that?" "Diesel, so good mileage. Stylish. But if it does break down, parts and service will cost a fortune, like with any German import." Tommi tapped to the next picture. "Then there's this one." "I like it!" Sara and Katie echoed in unison. "Mercedes three-hundred turbo diesel. Same plusses and minuses as the BMW." "And?" Katie prompted. "I like it," Tommi admitted sheepishly. "I really liked driving it. But ..." "Too expensive?" Sara asked. Tommi nodded. "In fact, if I want something reliable, it's going to cost more than I'd planned," she added with a grimace. She showed the last picture. "To be honest, this is the one I'm most leaning toward." "Golf?" "Turbo diesel," Tommi nodded. "It's very low mileage, and it's only a little more than the Focus." Katie laughed. "You certainly didn't narrow your choices much, did you? Looks like you've got a lot of deciding to do." Tommi nodded. "But I had a lot of great help today," she said appreciatively. "I don't know if I could have handled this much car shopping without your dad." ********** Ronnie knocked on Sara's door. "Sara?" she asked insistently, "Are you okay?" Getting no answer, she gingerly turned the knob and opened the door a crack to peek in. "Sara?" she called again. Sara lay on her bed, curled up in a fetal position, her back to the door. She didn't respond to Ronnie's entreaties. Ronnie thought for a moment, wondering if she was possibly crossing into an area where she had no business. She quickly convinced herself that Sara was her guest, and since Sara had no family other than Tommi, she had a moral obligation to help. She'd invited Sara, and so far, the vacation had been an emotional roller-coaster for the unhappy young woman. She slipped into the room, closing the door softly behind herself, and padded to the bed, sitting on the edge and gently placing a hand on Sara's shoulders. Ronnie could feel the faint tremors of Sara body as the girl sobbed quietly. "Sara, it's okay." Sara barely shook her head. "No, it's not," she whispered. "Nothing's okay." Ronnie continued to rub Sara's shoulder. "You've had a rough year," she said soothingly, "but you got through it." Indeed, Ronnie wondered if _she_ could have gotten through the seven months of hell that Sara had endured, even with all of Tommi's help. Sara had been accepted to school, and then lost her financial aid, only to get a last-minute surprise scholarship, thanks to Tommi - but Sara didn't know that. She'd moved hundreds of miles from home to college, hoping to room with her sister, only to feel rejected when Tommi chose to stay with Katie. But Tommi had arranged for a last-second change so Sara could be in the same dorm and be much closer. Tommi hadn't been able to cushion all the blows. Sara had watched her sister go on her first date, happy for Tommi but also wondering if she were losing her sister to some guy. She'd lost her mother, after being rejected - again - by that same mother and her oldest sister. And then she'd traveled to a home where she felt like an outsider because of how strongly Katie had accepted Tommi as Katie's own sister. On top of that, the gifts were a reminder to Sara of how little family - and how little money - she had. Ronnie and Roger had done their best to help Sara feel included. Maybe they'd done too much; Sara had very nice gifts from everyone. Ronnie had been so happy to be able to get some very nice outfits for Sara. Tommi had chosen some very special gifts for her sister. But Sara didn't seem able reciprocate, at least not in her mind. "I ... couldn't ... afford anything," Sara sniffled. "I _wanted_ to do so much, but I couldn't afford anything nice for Tommi!" she complained through tears. Ronnie recoiled. She and Roger _had_ gone too far with gifts for Sara. They'd wanted to make her feel like a part of the family, but instead, they'd inadvertently accentuated how little Sara was able to give. "I bet Tommi will wear the earrings everywhere," Ronnie said, trying her best to sound reassuring. "They're just cheap earrings," Sara protested. "I don't know why she would." "Hush," Ronnie chided her. "They're _not_ cheap. Maybe they didn't cost a lot, but the value is that _you_ gave from your love. _That's_ why Tommi put them on, and probably won't take them off very often - because they're a gift from you." She scooted a bit on the bed. "How about if you sit up, so we can talk?" Sara turned her head, glancing up at Ronnie. Her cheeks were tear- streaked, and her eyes red and puffy. After a moment, she nodded and rolled over to sit up, her back against one end of the bed. She wiped at her tears as she took a Kleenex from Ronnie and blew her nose. Ronnie continued. "I can't begin to imagine all the emotional turmoil you've had, but I _do_ know that you have a sister that loves you to death, and the best gift you can give her is your love." Sara shook her head sadly. "I'm not ... even sure ... how ... long," she said through sobs and sniffles, "she'll be ... my sister." The tears flowed anew, and she began to cry aloud. "She ... has a family!" Sara wailed. "All I've got ... is her! And when she has her second surgery ...." She was too distraught at the thought of losing Tommi to continue. Ronnie shifted her position so she was sitting beside Sara. She wrapped her arm around the girl, pulling Sara's head onto her shoulder. "Hush," she said softly. "Whether Tommi stays a girl, or has a second surgery, you're still close." "But ... Tommi has you! She's got a ... foster family!" Sara bawled. "I don't have anyone else!" Ronnie tenderly wiped Sara's cheek. She realized that she didn't know what to say to comfort Sara. "I'm ... scared," Sara admitted through her sobs. "I don't have anyone else, and I'm afraid of losing Tommi! I've never had anyone else who loved me like she does - not even my parents!" "Shhh," Ronnie said soothingly. "What do you think of Katie and Roger and me?" she asked softly. "Huh?" Sara pulled her head away from Ronnie's shoulder and looked at the older woman with a puzzled expression. "What do you think of us?" Ronnie repeated. "Because we all think of you the same way we think of Tommi. She's like family. And I want you to think of us the same way - like family." "But ...." Sara began to protest. Ronnie shook her head, smiling. "But nothing. Katie thinks very highly of both you _and_ Tommi. So that makes you like family, too." Sara thought for a few seconds, trying to understand. There was some hidden emotion in Ronnie's voice, something that lent her words a sense of urgency. "Okay?" Ronnie insisted. Sara nodded slowly. "K." Ronnie wiped Sara's tears and handed her another tissue. "Now let's get you cleaned up and let's go back out to the family room." She got another tissue. ********** "I've wanted to come here since I was little," Tommi said in awe as they stood in line. "So did I," Sara echoed. Ronnie smiled. "Then this is a dream come true for you both." In moments, the doors opened, and the group was swept with the crowd into the monorail for the short ride to the Magic Kingdom. Tommi and Sara both stared at the huge lagoon, with ferry boats carrying additional guests to the park. They circled through the lobby of the Contemporary resort, pausing to allow more guests to board the already-crowded train, and then the train continued its journey. When they left the car, they could see the buildings of the iconic park, with the fairy-tale castle in the center. Despite a very early start to the day, leaving home in the pre-dawn darkness to get to Orlando, the girls were wide awake and excited. This place was magical, and, as they strolled down Main Street, USA, Tommi and Sara were both struggling to take in the experience without feeling overwhelmed. During the drive, Ronnie had insisted that they plan their day. Using park information from the Internet, they discussed what attractions they wanted to focus on. Roger and Ronnie had cautioned Tommi and Sara that the park would be crowded, and that they'd have to be judicious in their choices of rides. What worked in their favor is that their college break was longer than most, so they were able to go after many schools had resumed. That meant that they avoided some of the worst crowds of the holiday season. Even with that, it was very unlikely that they'd get to do everything that they wanted. Ronnie took the opportunity to remind Tommi that, because of her pregnancy, she was _not_ going to ride any of the faster, more exciting rides. Naturally, Tommi grumbled some, but she knew that Ronnie was right, and that arguing would be a losing battle. The team decided that, while Roger, Katie, and Sara rode on the "exciting" rides, Tommi and Ronnie would spend time shopping and just relaxing. Tommi had tried to insist that Ronnie should be with Roger and Katie, but Ronni would have none of that; she insisted that she didn't like the faster rides, and besides, she liked spending time with Tommi. Tommi thought she saw a hint of jealousy or sadness on Sara's face at the way Ronnie expressed her preference, but it passed, with the excitement building as the miles passed. In the park, they strolled briskly toward their first destination, the Jungle Cruise. Because they were resort guests, and it was an early- opening day for resort guests, the park wasn't as crowded as Roger had feared. The line for Jungle Cruise was mercifully short. While they were waiting, Katie and Sara ran to the Pirates of the Caribbean to get Fast Passes. They returned just as the group was ready to board a boat. By hurrying between rides, they managed to get on four attractions with very short lines before the crowds started growing significantly, and, by mid-day, the lines were getting quite a bit longer. As a result, Ronnie and Tommi were spending more time sitting and shopping, while Roger, Sara, and Katie rode the attractions. Tommi didn't want to admit it, because she wasn't showing yet, but she felt a little more tired than she'd remembered from the first pregnancy. Having some time to relax and occasionally sit was a welcome relief for her. After the evening parade in the Magic Kingdom, they returned to their rooms to freshen up, and then went to the luau dinner at the resort. Katie offered to stay with her parents in one room, leaving Sara with Tommi in the second room, but Sara insisted that the three girls stay together. Tommi felt pleased that Sara was more accepting of Katie; she'd hoped that Sara would fit in and not feel like an outsider. It was very important, on this first Christmas without parents, that Sara had a loving environment. The day had been long; despite their unspoken intention of staying up late talking, both were asleep by ten. Katie tucked them in and crawled into bed herself. The second day was longer than the first. Though they didn't have to get up so early, they did have to pack and have breakfast, before they went the theme park. Tommi wanted to go to the Studios, but she was convinced by the others that Epcot would be better, especially with the fireworks show in the evening. Once more, Tommi stuck to the slower rides, but this time, Katie stayed with her mom and Tommi, letting Roger go on the attractions with Sara. The one ride Tommi really regretted not being able to ride was the Test Track, especially after Sara gushed about how much fun it was. Nevertheless, she enjoyed herself, despite the crowd. By the time the fireworks display was over, the girls were exhausted, and the monorail ride back to the resort didn't seem long enough. All three would have been asleep if the trip had been only ten minutes longer. At the resort, they piled into the car and headed for home. Before Roger had gotten ten miles onto the highway, Tommi was asleep, followed shortly by Sara. Ronnie glanced back at them and noted that they were sleeping peacefully, with Sara's head resting on Tommi's shoulder. She smiled and patted Roger's arm lovingly. The short Disney trip had been exactly what she'd hoped, and, she figured, exactly what Tommi and Sara had needed. ********** "So, which one are you getting?" Katie asked as Tommi crawled into Roger's car. Tommi smiled. "You'll see when I get back." "Fine!" Katie huffed. "Be that way!" She couldn't keep up her pretense of being mad, though. "I think you should get the Benz." Tommi laughed. "Sara wants me to get the Bimmer," she commented, before sighing. "Either of them are more than I planned to spend, though." "At least you won't have to worry about fixing your car for a while," Katie added. She glanced around before leaning closer. "I guess the second contract is handy after all," she said quietly. Tommi nodded. "I was thinking the same thing." She frowned. "You know, with Sara's scholarship and the car, I'm probably going to have to do a third contract." Katie nodded. "I was wondering about that." "Well, we can talk more about it back at school." "No hints about the car?" Tommi grinned. "Nope. It'll be a surprise." As the car drove off, Katie shook her head, smiling. "All _that_ means is, you haven't made up your mind yet!" she said to herself. An hour later, Sara and Katie heard Roger's car approaching. They quickly pulled themselves from the backyard pool, toweled off, and ran to the garage. Roger pulled in his Mercedes, and Tommi pulled up behind him. Sara's mouth dropped open as she ran to the driver's side. "It's ... wow! It's _cute_! Is it a Jetta?" Tommi smiled and nodded. "Turbo-diesel," she announced proudly. "It's very low mileage for a diesel, it's fun to drive, and it's loaded." Sara's eyes widened. "It's pretty!" The car was dark blue. Sara could see the sunroof, and she suspected Tommi wasn't exaggerating about the other amenities. Katie walked slowly around the car, eyeing it critically. "Let's look under the hood," she said as she approached the front. Sara gawked at her. "Are you kidding?" she exclaimed. "The first thing you want to look at is the engine?" Roger grinned. "That's my girl!" "Fine!" Sara said in exasperation. "You look at the engine! I'm going to check out the interior!" She climbed into the driver's seat. In deference to Katie, she pulled the hood release handle before she began to look at the controls. She purred as she sank into the soft comfort of the leather seats, and she ran her fingers over the controls on the center console. Tommi stood beside the fender. "Your dad's mechanic checked it out," she announced, "and it's very clean." Roger raised one eyebrow. "Um," he cleared his throat, "I thought you were going to call me 'Roger' or 'Dad'." Tommi winced. "Sorry, _Dad_." She turned back to Katie. "It gets over forty miles per gallon." "It's not as sporty as I was expecting you to get," Katie observed. Tommi shrugged. "I guess I'm just getting too practical." Sara poked her head out the window. "I can _definitely_ see myself borrowing this! This is one _cool car!" Tommi raised an eyebrow and stared at Sara. "You _wish_!" "Why not? In case you've forgotten, I don't have a car, and, since we live on campus, you don't need to drive all the time, so if I borrow your car, it shouldn't be much of an inconvenience," Sara argued. Roger laughed. "If she doesn't go into medicine, she'd make a good lawyer!" Tommi closed the hood. "Let's go for a drive," she announced. As Sara climbed out, Tommi grinned. "And if you behave, I'll let drive a bit to see how you like it." ********** Sara crept into Tommi's room. "Are you sleeping?" she whispered, as she approached Tommi's bed. Tommi sat up. "Not yet," she answered. Sara sat on the edge of Tommi's bed. "I wanted to thank you for bringing me here." Tommi leaned forward and gave her sister a hug. "You're welcome. Thank you for coming. I had a great time." "So did I," Sara answered. Still, there was a hint of sadness in her voice. Tommi noticed. "What's wrong?" Sara shook her head, an action barely noticeable in the darkness. "Nothing." Tommi sighed. "You're not very convincing. What's wrong?" Sara shook her head sadly. "I ... I don't know," she answered, feeling the tears welling up again. "It's just ... this reminds me of what _we_ never had!" Tommi nodded. "I know," she agreed softly. "But I know we'll always feel that we have a home with them." She thought back to her previous visit, during Spring Break, when it was just her. "Even without Katie, they accepted me. I _know_ they feel the same about you." "It's not the same," Sara replied sadly. "It's just not the same." Tommi nodded. "Yeah, I know." Her voice choked. "But it's a lot better than nothing." "Maybe." "We're orphans, aren't we?" Tommi asked sadly, knowing the painful truth. "We'll never have a real home to go back to." Sara clutched Tommi tightly. "No," she said through her tears. "I really envy Katie." "Why?" "Because she has a real family and a real home," Sara cried. This vacation had been extremely emotional for her. "I wish we had a _real_ home," she said sadly. "With _real_ parents who loved us, like Ronnie and Roger love Katie." Katie was out in the hall, approaching Tommi's door. She'd found Sara's door open, with no sign of Sara, so she figured Sara was probably with Tommi. The light was off in Tommi's room, but Katie could hear some soft talking. She clutched the doorknob to open the door and peek in, but for some reason, she instead bent her ear closer to hear what the girls were talking about. She heard them sobbing, and wondered if she shouldn't knock and help. Slowly, though, as she realized what the girls were saying, her eyes widened. After a few minutes, the girls' conversation died down, so Katie tiptoed back down the hall toward her parents' room, a smile slowly spreading on her face. She paused at the door and tapped softly on the door jamb. "Mom, Dad," she said, a sense of urgency in her voice, "can I come in? There's something we need to talk about." ********** (to be continued)