Cicely couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief as she stepped off the school bus. Her junior year of high school was over, and there was only one year left to go. It was easy to forget any problems on a day like this-sunny and warm, but not too sunny nor too hot, with a comfortable breeze that blew her hair into her face. For once, she didn’t mind the three-block walk home from the bus stop, though she still looked forward to getting her drivers' license.
Though I don't know what I'd drive, seeing as my stupid brother totaled our other car. Oh well, maybe we'll get a new one this summer.
She turned the key in the door and let herself in-and was surprised to see her mother lying on the couch, watching TV. "What are you doing home?" Cicely wondered.
"I had a headache," Meg Asher replied. "I got a call this morning-your brother's coming home in a couple of days."
"Good for him," Cicely said, with some sincerity. She was glad that her brother was getting better, though she wasn't looking forward to sharing a house with him again. Maybe now he'd be done with getting in trouble, though, and her parents would have time for her again. She picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table and started reading it. "Vinton? What the hell is Vinton?"
"It's a town. I hear it's a beautiful place."
"Why is Dad sending e-mails to a real estate company there?"
"Well, um, we meant to discuss that with you when he gets home this evening..."
Cicely could feel a feeling of sickness beginning to rise in her stomach.