Chapter 3

I chuckled to myself. I wasn't some brat under sixteen anymore. Mentally, I'd long outgrown that phase of begging for sweets.

I quickly stuffed the candy into her pocket and put my hand over it, acting all huffy.

I said, "If you still think of me as your friend, just take it. Kayleigh's off at college, so it's just me at home now. I've got loads, so don't hold back."

Kate knew my situation wasn't nearly as great as I made it out to be.

Dad was all about appearances and figured kids from military families should learn to tough things out. Even these candies, Mom had to sneak them to me when Dad wasn't looking.

She stared at me for a long time, making sure I wouldn't snatch the candy back, before finally giving in. "Alright, I'll keep it here. If you want some, just come get it from me."

I shook my head. "I know your little brother and sister love digging through your stuff. If you don't want them scoring a freebie, you'd better eat it quick."

Kate and I were pretty much the same. At home, we were the ones nobody really paid attention to. That's part of why we clicked so well.

For me, it was all because Kayleigh was just too perfect. Ever since we were kids, my parents only had eyes for her. It was like I didn't even exist to them.

Kate, on the other hand, was the oldest, so the adults just figured she should look after her siblings and pick up the slack at home.

The next morning, after I finished breakfast, I made my way over to Kate Mitchell's house. She was already waiting for me outside, looking eager.

Kate grinned, "Perfect timing! Let's head out. Kate should already be at work."

I laughed, "Sounds good!"

Once we were out of the compound and on a quiet stretch of road, Kate carefully pulled out a candy from inside her jacket. It was a bit squished and melty from being carried around. "Here."

I took it, but when I saw she wasn't grabbing one for herself, I didn't rush to eat it. "Is that all? Where's yours?"

Her face twisted for a second before she forced a smile. "I already had one. This one's just for you."

I could tell she was fibbing, so before she could protest, I popped the candy right into her mouth.

"Oh, I swear... I already had one," she tried to say, her mouth full.

Her words came out all muffled, and she looked at her hand, probably thinking about spitting it out to see if I'd still want it.

I gave her a stern look. "Don't you dare spit it out. I'm not eating your slobber."

Once Kate gave up on it, I grabbed her hand and rolled up her sleeve.

Sure enough, there were bruises and welts all over her arm, black and blue, overlapping. I knew her mom must've used a feather duster on her.

I felt a lump in my throat, almost on the verge of tears. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think it through. I got you hurt."

Kate grabbed my hand and quickly pulled her sleeve down, not letting me see any more so I wouldn't feel worse.

Kate said, "Celia, it's not your fault. I should've listened to you. I tried to hide the candy, but my siblings found it."

"Don't feel bad. It really doesn't hurt! I'm used to this, honestly."

I remembered what I'd found out after Dad's name was cleared in my last life, and my chest tightened.

Even though Kate stayed in the city, her family didn't let her finish high school. They forced her to start working instead.

A year before I came back with my parents, Kate's brother was getting married, and her family married her off to a butcher just to scrape together the money for the wedding.

The butcher was a real brute, always beating his wife.

When Kate was six months pregnant, the butcher beat her so badly she lost the baby. By the time she got to the hospital, it was already too late.

I grabbed Kate's hand, my voice firmer than ever. "Kate, come with me. Let's head out to the countryside together!

"Let Faith Kate set us up at the same spot. From now on, we're family."

Kate's eyes lit up for a moment, but then dimmed again. "I can't do that. My folks would never go for it.

"If I left, Mom would be buried in chores, and my little brother and sister wouldn't have anyone to look after them."

I held her face steady, making sure she was looking right at me, and spoke each word with real seriousness.

"Kate, you're just a kid yourself, not much older than your brother and sister.

"Back when you were their age, weren't you already doing your own laundry and helping your mom out with whatever you could?

"Even if you're not around, they'll figure things out. You've got to let them grow up, give them a shot at stepping up and lightening the load for your mom, just like you did.

"Or do you really want to spend your whole life taking care of them?"

Kate went from thoughtful to frantically shaking her head and hands. She was moving so fast, it was almost a blur.

She said, "No, no, no! I'm going to get married someday and take care of my own family. Other than looking after Mom and Dad when they're old, there's no way I'm stuck taking care of my brother and sister for the rest of my life!"