Chapter 126

To Kendrick's surprise, his sister Naomi bawled worse than one of her babies at the airport when she came to see him off. Talk about out of character. Even worse? Hers weren't the only tears. Ma cried too, although, hers were thankfully silent. The big shocker? His gruff father showed a hint of moisture, which he of course blamed on nonexistent dust.

Weight shifting from one foot to the other, Kendrick wondered how to escape the waterworks. "Geez, guys, it's not like I haven't gone away before."

"But never so far," sniffled his sister. "And where there's so much danger."

Good grief. Who took his snarky sister and left this emotional mess in her place? Sure, Kendrick appreciated the break from her acerbic tongue and strong-for-a-girl fist, but still ? The Naomi he knew didn't cry because her brother went on a trip. She celebrated because she got more of Mom's cooking to take home as leftovers. "I'll bring you back a present?" He asked this hopefully.