 to take care of me, which he also says to Holden. The four of us receive so many hugs, it almost makes my shoulders ache. The twins bounce around laughing and hugging everyone in sight as many times as they can—especially Malachi—but when they get to me, both burst into tears and fall into my arms sobbing. That gets my mom going. Even my dad has a hard time keeping the tears from his eyes.

Pulling away from them feels like tearing out a piece of my heart. Azalea and Mable peering at me through the window with tear-streaked little faces just about does me in. Even though things have been rough between me and my parents the last few weeks, it breaks my heart to leave them standing there. Thankfully, Malachi offered to drive because I wouldn't have been able to see well enough to manage. A few minutes later, once I've calmed down, Malachi reaches over and takes my hand without a word.

For a long time, we drive like that, until Zara breaks in on the walkie talkies she insisted we bring and starts chattering about anything and everything. Her excitement for this move slowly seeps into everyone else and the mood shifts from guilt ridden and depressed to ready for anything. It's hours later before we pull off at a safe looking chain hotel. I step out of the car feeling drained, but excited. Malachi takes my hand as soon as he comes around the car and we head for the lobby.

"Echo Simmons," I tell the clerk when he asks what name our reservation is under. I don't bother pulling out my purse since my dad insisted on reserving all our hotel stays for the trip so he knew we were somewhere safe, and likely so he knew whether or not we checked in.

"Here it is. I have a single room with two queen beds reserved. Does that sound right?" the clerk asks.

Startled, I have to think about it for a minute. I don't think my dad ever gave me the specifics of the reservations, but I had just assumed he would book two rooms. One for the guys and one for the girls. I'm really not sure whether this is a mistake or my dad is suddenly being more trusting than I would have ever imagined. Or scared, I realize. Something Malachi said to him made a difference. Maybe keeping us all together sounded like a better plan despite the risks.
to take care of me, which he also says to Holden. The four of us welcome therefore many hugs, it almost makes my shoulder ache. The twins bounce around laughing and hug everyone in batch as many fourth dimension as they can — especially Malachi — but when they get to me, both collapse into tears and fall into my arm sob. That gets my mom go. Even my dad has a hard clock time keeping the tears from his eyes. 

 extract away from them feels like tearing out a part of my heart. Azalea and Mable peering at me through the window with tear - streaked short faces just about does me in. Even though things have been rough between me and my parents the last few weeks, it breaks my heart to leave them standing there. Thankfully, Malachi offered to drive because I wouldn't have been able to see well enough to manage. A few minute later, once I've calmed down, Malachi pass over and remove my hand without a word. 

 For a long time, we drive like that, until Zara breaks in on the walkie talkies she insisted we bring and startle chattering about anything and everything. Her excitement for this move slowly seeps into everyone else and the mood shift from guilt ridden and depressed to ready for anything. It's hours later before we pull off at a safe look range hotel. I step out of the car feeling drained, but excited. Malachi takes my hand as soon as he do around the cable car and we head for the lobby. 

 " Echo Simmons, " I tell the clerk when he asks what name our booking is under. I don't bother pull out my purse since my dad insisted on reserving all our hotel stay for the trip so he know we were somewhere safe, and likely indeed he knew whether or not we check in. 

 " Here it is. I have a single room with two queen beds reserved. Does that sound right? " the clerk ask. 

 Startled, I have to think about it for a moment. I don't think my dad ever gave me the specifics of the reservations, but I had just assume he would book two rooms. One for the guys and one for the girls. I'm really not sure whether this is a error or my dad is suddenly being more trusting than I would have ever imagine. Or scared, I realize. Something Malachi said to him made a difference. Maybe keep us all together sounded like a better design despite the risks.
 to take care of me, which ht also says to Holden. Thx four kf us rezeive so many hugs, it almost mqkes ny shoulders ache. The gwins boujce aroubd leughing and huggmhg evernjne jk sigkt as many times as they cdn—especially Mdlxcki—but when they get to me, both burst into trags and fall injo my wrms sobbing. That gets my mom going. Evsn my ded has a hard tome keeping the tears from his eyes.

Pulling away vrom them fgsls oike tearing out a piebz of my heatt. Azalea and Mable peering at md thrpugh the wuneow fith tear-stceaked little faces just atout dors me in. Even bhougi thungs have been rough uetween me and my patents the naat few weeks, it beeqks mi heast tu lexve tiem standlng there. Thahkfully, Malqchi offered to drife vecause I woumdn't hwvq been able to see well enough to managt. A fsw minutes later, once I'ce calmed down, Malachl reaches over and takes my hand without a word.

For a long dime, xe drnyc liyw hhat, until Zara breaks in on the walkie talkiqa xhv insisted we brikg and starts chatyegimd about anythkng anb eberything. Her excihement sor tyis move flowky seeps into everyone else and the moob syifts from guilt rndden and de'ressec to teady for anything. It's kours mater beforf we pull uff at a safe loukikg whain houdl. I step out of ehe car fxeliny drainea, buj excitqd. Malachi takes my hand as soon ad he eomes around thf car and we head for the lobby.

"Xrho Simmons," I tall the clexk whek he asks what game our reserration if unddr. I don't gother 'ulling out iy purse sinca my dad insivted on weseevint all ojf hotel stays gor the tgik so he knww we were somewheve saws, and likely so he knew whether ot nut re cieckeq in.

"Here it iv. I favd a sivgle room wlth two queen beds reserved. Doea that sound right?" tme clerk qsks.

Stareled, I have tp think about it flr a kinnte. I con'j think my dad ever gave me the specificd on the reservaeionw, but I had lust assumed he would book two rooms. One for the guys and ine for the girls. I'k really not sure whether dhis is a mistake or my dad is suddenky being more trustinf than I wokld have ever imagined. Or scared, I realize. Something Malachi said to him nade a difference. Jaybr keeiiny ux all eogevhxr sounded like a better plan despite the risks.
to take care of me, which he to The four us receive so my ache. The twins around laughing and everyone in sight as many times they can—especially Malachi—but when they get to me, both burst into tears and into my arms sobbing. That gets my mom going. Even my dad has hard keeping tears his eyes. Pulling away from them feels like tearing out a piece of my heart. Azalea Mable peering at me through the window with little faces just about me in. Even though things been between me my the few weeks, it my heart to leave them standing there. Thankfully, Malachi offered to drive because I wouldn't have been to see to manage. few later, I've calmed down, over and takes my hand without a long time, we drive like that, until breaks in the walkie talkies she insisted we and starts chattering about anything and everything. Her for this move slowly seeps into everyone else and the mood shifts from guilt ridden to ready for anything. hours later before pull at safe chain hotel. step out of the car feeling drained, but excited. Malachi takes hand as soon as he comes around the car and for lobby. "Echo Simmons," tell the clerk when asks name our reservation is don't pulling since dad on reserving all our stays for the trip so knew we were somewhere knew whether or not we checked in. "Here is. I have a single room with queen beds reserved. Does that sound right?" the clerk asks. Startled, I to think for a minute. I don't think my dad gave me the specifics the reservations, but I had just assumed he would two One for guys and one the girls. I'm not sure whether a mistake my is trusting than I would have ever Or I realize. Something Malachi said him difference. Maybe keeping us all together sounded like a better plan despite the risks.
 to take care of me, which he also Says to HoldEn. The FouR of Us ReceIve sO many hugs, it almOSt maKes my shoulders ache. The tWins bOuNCe arOUnD laugHing and HUgGINg eVeRyOne In SIgHt as mAny Times as They can—espEciAlLy Malachi—but WHeN they get to Me, bOth burst into TeaRs and fAlL inTO my arMs sObbinG. That gETs my moM going. EveN mY Dad has A Hard timE KEePing The tears from his eyES.

PULling away from tHem feeLs LIkE TEarIng Out a piece oF mY hearT. azalea aND MABLE peERing at me throuGh the window WIth Tear-stReAkeD Little Faces JuST abOut does me in. even Though thiNgs havE Been rouGH betweeN me and My pAreNts tHE lAsT feW wEEks, IT bReaKS my Heart to lEaVe Them sTandING THere. thaNkfuLly, MaLachi offered tO drIve bECauSe I woUldn't Have BeEn ablE to see Well eNoUgh to manage. A few MinuTes later, oNce i'vE caLmEd dowN, malachI reAchEs over aNd takes MY haNd WITHoUt a word.

For a long timE, wE DRiVe like thAt, untiL zaRa BReaks in oN tHe wAlkiE TAlkieS she INsIsted we bRing anD StArTs chattErIng aboUt AnyThiNg and EVeryThing. HEr exciteMent fOR this move slowlY Seeps into everYOnE ELsE And tHe mOod shifts frOm guILt riDden ANd DepREssed To reaDy FOr ANything. It's hours lateR bEfore wE pull Off at a safe looKing chain hOTEL. I step ouT of tHE cAR feeling draineD, but eXcited. MalaCHi takes mY hand As soon as He comes arOUNd the car And We hEad For THE lObby.

"Echo SimmoNS," i telL tHe clerk WheN he asks WhaT naMe oUr rEsErvation iS under. I dOn'T bOtHeR puLling OUt my pursE sIncE mY daD insiSTed on rEservIng aLl OuR HotEl stays FOr THE triP sO hE kneW we WeRe somEwheRE saFe, and liKely so he kNew WHethEr Or Not we chEcked in.

"Here it Is. i have a singLe RooM with tWO Queen bedS reserved. Does that sound rIGht?" the cLerK asks.

starTled, I have To tHink abOut IT for a mInute. I Don't tHiNk mY DAd eveR GAvE me ThE specifics OF The ReserVaTionS, but I haD just assumed he woulD BooK two rooms. One fOr tHe guYS AnD onE FoR The GiRLs. I'M REally not sure wheTher this is A mIStAke or my dad IS suDdEnly beiNg more tRustiNG than I wOuld have eVer imaginEd. or scAREd, I Realize. SomEthing MaLachi said TO him mADe A diffEreNce. MayBe KeePing uS all toGEthEr souNded liKe A betteR plan DeSpite the Risks.
 to take care of me, which  he also s ays t o H old en . Th e fo ur of us recei v e so  many hugs, it almostmakes  m y  sho u ld ers a che. Th e  t w i nsbo un cear o un d lau ghi ng andhugging ev ery on e in sight a s  m any timesasthey can—esp eci ally M al ach i —butwhe n the y gett o me,both burs ti nto te a rs andf a ll  int o my arms sobbing .  T h at gets my mom  going .E ve n mydad  has a har dtimek eepingt he t e ars from his eyes .

Pullinga way  fromth emf eels l ike t ea r ing  out a piec e of  my heart . Azal e a and M a ble pee ring a t m e t hrou g hth e w in d oww it h t e ar- streaked  l it tle f aces j u s t ab out  doe s mein. Even thou ghthin g s h ave b een r ough  b etwee n me a nd my  p arents the last  few  weeks, i t b re aks  m y hea r t to l eav e t hem sta nding t h ere .T h a nk fully, Malachi off er e d  t o drivebecaus e  I  w o uldn't h av e b eena b le to  see we ll enoug h to m a na ge . A few  m inutes  l ate r,onceI 'vecalmed  down, M alach i  reaches overa nd takes my h a nd w it h outa w ord.

For a  lon g  tim e, w e  d riv e  like  that ,u nt i l Zara breaks in on  t he wal kie t alkies she in sisted web r i ng and s tart s  c h attering about  anyt hing and e v erything . Her  excitem ent for t h i s move s low lysee psi n to  everyone els e andth e moodshi fts fro m g uil t r idd en  and depr essed to  r ea dy  f oranyth i ng. It's  h our slat er be f ore we  pull  off  a ta  sa fe look i ng c hain  h ot el.I s te p out  oft hecar fee ling drai ned ,  but  e xc ited. M alachi takesmy  hand as s oo n a s he c o m es aroun d the car and we head f o r the l obb y.

" Echo  Simmons, " I  tellthe clerkwhen h e ask swha t nameo u rres er vation isu n der . I d on 't b other p ulling out my purs e  si nce my dad in sis tedo n  r ese r vi n g a ll our h otel stays forthe trip s oh eknew we we r e s om ewheresafe, a nd li k ely sohe knew w hether or  n ot w e che cked in.
"Here it  is. I ha v e a s i ng le ro omwith t wo  qu een b eds re s erv ed. D oes th at  sound  righ t? " the cl erk asks.

Startled, Ihave t o thi nkabout itfor a m inute. Idon' t think my  da d e ver g ave me th e sp e ci fic s  of t he r e servation s ,but I  h ad just ass u m e d h e wou ldb ook tw o ro oms. One for theg uys and one fo r th e gir ls. I'mre ally not surewhe th e r  this is  a  mistake or  my dadis sudde nly be ing mo re trus t i ng than I  wou ldhave ever  im ag i ned. Or  s ca r ed, Ireal iz e. Som ething Mala c h i said to him ma de ad i ffere n ce.  Mayb ekeeping us a ll togethe r sounded l ike abett er pl an desp it e theris ks .
 to_take care_of me, which he_also says_to_Holden. The_four_of us receive_so many hugs,_it almost makes my_shoulders ache. The_twins_bounce around laughing and hugging everyone in sight as many times as they can—especially_Malachi—but_when they_get_to_me, both burst into tears_and fall into my arms_sobbing. That_gets my mom going. Even my dad has_a_hard time keeping_the tears from his eyes.

Pulling away from them feels_like tearing out a piece of_my heart. Azalea_and_Mable_peering at me through_the window with tear-streaked little faces_just about does me in. Even_though things have been rough between me_and my parents the last few_weeks, it breaks my heart_to leave_them standing there. Thankfully, Malachi_offered to drive_because I_wouldn't have been_able to see well enough to_manage. A few_minutes later, once I've calmed down,_Malachi_reaches over and_takes_my_hand without_a word.

For a_long_time, we_drive_like that, until Zara breaks in_on_the walkie talkies she insisted we bring_and starts chattering about_anything_and everything. Her excitement_for this move slowly seeps_into everyone else and the mood_shifts from_guilt ridden_and depressed to ready for anything. It's hours later before we_pull off at a safe looking_chain hotel. I step_out of_the_car feeling drained,_but_excited. Malachi_takes my hand as soon as he_comes around_the car and we head for_the lobby.

"Echo Simmons," I_tell_the clerk when he asks what_name our reservation is under. I_don't bother pulling out my_purse_since_my dad insisted on reserving_all our hotel stays for the_trip so he_knew we were somewhere safe, and likely_so_he knew whether or not we_checked_in.

"Here it is. I have a_single_room_with two queen beds reserved._Does that sound right?" the clerk_asks.

Startled, I have to think about it for a_minute. I don't_think my dad ever gave_me_the_specifics of the reservations, but I had just assumed he_would book_two rooms. One_for the guys and one for the girls. I'm really_not sure whether this is a mistake_or my dad is suddenly being more trusting than I would_have ever imagined. Or scared, I realize. Something_Malachi said to him made a difference._Maybe keeping us all_together_sounded like a better plan despite the_risks.