Rewrite the Stars by Christina Consolino (books for 8th graders .txt) 📕

What Kate said, unintentionally, was one hundred percent true: while we decided divorce was the best option, I had to consider Theo might have had an ulterior motive in hanging on to our situation as it was. And even if he didn’t, everything over the last six months or so had pointed me in the direction it was time. To let go of Theo, our life as it was. To let go of the past.

The muffled sounds of my family’s actions slipped under the door: the roll of the dice and Charlie’s sweet laughter. Every so often, Delia’s or Lexie’s tender voices projected my way. When I’d gotten back from the library, Lena agreed to stay while I rested. Instead of eating lunch, I’d crawled into bed, slept for a few hours, and then called Kate. And here I was, awake and ashamed to go out and face my family. Would my feelings show on my face? Or could I count on the fall to cover everything up? And if I relied on camouflage, wasn’t that the easy way out, again?

The attached bathroom served as a distraction, and I splashed cold water against my cheeks. In the mirror, my face looked drawn and tired, much the way Theo seemed most of the time. I blotted the water up with a towel, hung it back on the hook next to the sink, and opened the door. The smell of something delicious floated my way, and my stomach rumbled.

As I reached the kitchen, I looked over to the living area, where I presumed everyone would be stationed. In fact, due to the temperate weather, the whole family, save me, had moved to the front porch. The front door stood partially open, and all the familial sounds traveled through the metal screens to the kitchen, warming my insides. The large plate glass window gave me a perfect view of the entire family.

Charlie and Delia sat on the wicker arm chairs, while Theo, Lena, and Lexie lounged on the porch swing. Theo rested his left arm on the back of the swing, almost up against Lena’s shoulders, while she held onto Lexie, who had snuggled against Lena’s other side, thumb in her mouth, blanket to her cheek. A beautiful picture of a happy family. A family like I wanted again, and probably could have, if I had the courage to let go of the past and grab the future. The beating of my heart stuttered, and bile rose in my throat.

A knock sounded at the rear door off the kitchen. Tearing my gaze away from my family, I gathered my wits together, then wiped my hands on the kitchen towel and strode the few steps toward the door. A pit formed in my stomach. Andrew stood there on the back porch with a bright smile on his face and a paper grocery bag in his hands.

“Thought you guys might need help,” he said and walked toward me.

One beat, then two, and then without a word, I took the grocery bag from his hands and set it on the floor. Standing on tiptoe, I reached up, placed my hands on either side of Andrew’s smooth face, and pulled it toward mine.

Chapter 24: Sadie

The moment before our lips touched, Andrew pulled back and removed my hands from his face. “Sadie,” he said, shaking my hands between his. “You don’t want to do that.”

“Uh, yes, I do.” After pulling my hands from his, I wiped a stray tear from the corner of my eye.

“No, you don’t. And as much as I really want for you to do that—and I can’t tell you how much I want it—I didn’t come here for that,” Andrew said. He retreated a couple steps backward, giving me space, giving himself some. “Plus, you’re not even officially divorced, and I had no idea you came up here. When I went to see Mom about an hour ago, I heard the news.”

His words were both shocking and expected. He wanted to kiss me? Was he having the same struggle I experienced? If so, why hadn’t he said anything? Of course, he had mentioned he felt something for me as well, but this was Andrew we were talking about. The man people called an all-around good guy. A man who, evidenced by what just happened, seemed to have more morals than I did. But he was also a man who had trouble staying away from me. Was he a stalker?

“Are you stalking me? Because I find this a little creepy that you’d—”

He threw up his hands, palms facing me. “No! I swear I’m not stalking you. The first year I came up here, I ran into two families dressed in T-shirts from schools back in Kettering. I found it odd and surprising, but the norm around here. Lots of people from Ohio visit the lake. And I had no idea you knew of this place.”

I backed myself up toward the cabinet holding the cleaning supplies, and after a quick glance to make sure no one else had entered the house, leaned against the door. “I had no clue you knew about Walloon Lake, either. I swear. To be honest, we came here to get away from you. Or at least I did.” My gaze traveled up and down Andrew’s form. He looked as great as ever with a clean-shaven face and a sparkle in his eye matching his mother’s. “That didn’t sound right, did it?” I dipped to pick up the grocery bag and turned toward the kitchen. “I meant I came to get away...to find myself again.”

“I know what you meant. Here, let me take the bag for you.” Andrew—chivalrous as always—reached for the grocery bag, and I let him take it, which clearly invited him to come farther into the cottage. “Where is everyone else?”

“They’re out front. Had you come in that way, you’d have seen them.” I motioned for him to follow