Page 19 of A Love Song for Dreamers

But my gaze lands on her round stomach, and I suck in a breath. “You look ready topop.”

“And you look great.” She beams and folds me in ahug.

It feels good to hug her. These past couple of years, we’ve gotten closer even though I’ve been away. Strange how you can feel close to someone you never see except on occasional videocalls.

“Annie!”

I pull back to see a tiny human in the doorway in a green dress, pigtails in her dark hair and fists on herwaist.

“You came for my party,” shestates.

The air vanishes from my lungs. My half sister isn’t a toddler anymore. She’s got Haley’s bow mouth and amber eyes like mine and the last time I saw Sophie in person, she couldn’t say a completesentence.

All of which makes it hard to respond inkind.

“Sure did. But I heard it was Dad’sparty.”

She shakes her head vigorously. “It’s for me. Those are my friends.” She points back over her shoulder and I swallow thelaugh.

Her eyes brighten as she inspects me. “What’s in there?” She points to the weekender bag the limo driver set by thedoor.

“A party dress. You want tosee?”

“Uh-huh.”

Then she turns on her heel and takes off back into thehouse.

Haley rolls her eyes. “Well, that’s Sophie. She broods like your dad and laughs like me but we still don’t know where the energy comesfrom.”

“I’m sure we’ll have time to hang out later. Anyway, sorry I’m late. We sat on the tarmac two hours because of a baggage issue. Looks like the party’s started,” I say as I nod toward thecars.

“It has, but the path to your room is clear if you’d like to getchanged.”

Haley starts to grab my bag, but I step in. “Don’t youdare.”

She leads the way through the house. Sounds of the party drift through the hallways, but aside from glimpses of stylish figures wearing casual suits and chic summer dresses in the kitchen and living room and patio beyond, there’s no one in our path as we headupstairs.

“We’re so glad you came,” Haley starts. “I know you’ve been busy working on your newshow.”

“It’s not every day Dad launches a music label. I never thought he’d go through withit.”

“Me either. He’s talked about it long enough, but I figured it was his way of complaining about his former label when he sees Mace and the guys from theband.”

When I push open the door of my old bedroom, Ifreeze.

It’s exactly the way Iremember.

My music boxes line the shelves, the same duvet covers thebed.

I set my bag down and swallow the emotion that risesup.

I had been expecting it to hit when I saw the house, but for some reason, it’s coming now with my stepmom watching me, one hand on her swollen stomach and her lips softlycurved.

“This will always be your home,” she says firmly. “No matterwhat.”

“Thank you,” I say and meanit.

Haley leaves, and I turn back to my suitcase, pulling out the backless purple dress with a deep V neckline and the strappy sandals that show off my legs, toned fromdancing.

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