Chapter 7: The Welcome No One Wants

When the bus arrived in our town, everyone—kids, parents, grandparents—came out to welcome us.

It was like a scene from a movie—people waving, smiling, calling out our names. Emily ran to the front, her face glowing with hope. I felt a lump in my throat, knowing what was at stake.

When Kayla stepped off, everyone clapped and cheered.

She looked around, surprised by the attention. She flashed a big smile, waving like a celebrity. The townsfolk grinned back, their faces full of relief and gratitude.

My little sister had always been sweet and loved by everyone. Now that there was hope, of course they were happy.

Emily hugged me tight, whispering thank you over and over. I tried not to cry, holding her close. The whole town felt lighter, like we’d finally found a way out.

But Kayla didn’t know the truth. She strutted off the bus, smiling politely, scanning the crowd, her grin growing wider.

She shook hands with the mayor, posed for photos, even signed a little girl’s notebook. She basked in the attention, oblivious to what it all meant.

"Hi everyone, my name’s Kayla. I’m Mason’s friend. I’m so happy to meet you all."

She spoke with confidence, her voice carrying over the crowd. People smiled, nodding politely. I stood by her side, trying to hide my nerves.

Just as I was about to take Kayla home, she pointed into the crowd.

She tapped my arm, eyes wide with excitement. "Who’s that guy over there?"

"That guy is hot."

She giggled, nudging me. I followed her gaze and felt my stomach drop.

Following her finger, I saw it was my neighbor, Cody Warren, who’d changed his name from Cletus after moving to the city—said his old name sounded too country.

Cody was leaning against his car, sunglasses on, looking like he owned the place. He flashed a toothy grin, waving at Kayla.

This guy is all about flash—designer clothes, fancy watches, and even for the hundred feet from his house to the main road, he’ll fire up his Tesla just to show off.

He revved the engine, making sure everyone heard. I rolled my eyes, but Kayla looked impressed.

When Kayla called out, Cody shot her a flirty grin.

He sauntered over, hands in his pockets. "Well, hey there. Welcome to the neighborhood."

"You’re in luck. Mason’s house is right next to mine. I’ll give you a lift."

He held out his arm, ever the gentleman. Kayla giggled, taking it without hesitation.

Kayla nodded eagerly. "Thanks."

She slid into the passenger seat, tossing her hair over her shoulder. I followed behind, feeling like a third wheel.

When we got to my house, Kayla hopped out and threw Cody a flirty look before reluctantly following me inside.

She lingered by the car, waving goodbye. Cody winked, promising to show her around town later. I bit back a sigh, leading her up the front steps.

As soon as she stepped into the yard, the first thing she noticed was the crabapple tree.

She stopped in her tracks, staring at the twisted branches. The blossoms looked even paler than in my mom’s photo.

"Why does this tree look so sick? It looks like it’s about to die."

She frowned, reaching out to touch a wilted leaf. I watched her, wondering if she understood what the tree meant to us.

My mom smiled and said, "It was dying, but now that you’re here, Kayla, maybe it’ll make it."

She placed a gentle hand on Kayla’s shoulder, her eyes shining with hope. The words hung in the air. A promise. A warning.

By then, it was too late to turn back.