A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Calliope and Silas arrived at the old house in no time. It wasn't a mansion, but it was big-sprawling, really-with a huge yard out front. Just looking at it, you could tell the family had done well for themselves.

Calliope hadn't been back in years. Ever since Grandpa Kermit passed away, she and her foster brothers barely visited anymore.

But the folks in the town had always been kind. Even when no one from the family was around, they'd take turns coming over, sweeping the porch, and keeping the

place up.

It was obvious, too. Even though no one had lived here in so long, the yard was spotless-not a single weed in sight. The young saplings she remembered had grown tall, and the garden was bursting with life, as if someone still lived here year-round.

Silas trailed behind Calliope, taking it all in.

"So this is where you grew up?" he asked, glancing around like he was picturing little Calliope darting around the yard. She definitely didn't strike him as the quiet, well-behaved type-no, she had "wild child" written all over her.

"Yeah." Calliope smiled. "Pretty nice, isn't it?"

As she spoke, her eyes landed on the big old oak tree by the porch. Hanging from a sturdy branch was a wooden swing, swaying slightly in the breeze. Just seeing

made her eyes sting with

just for her. He'd doted on her endlessly. Even though her

grandpa made for me. With

wandered over and sat

bit of damage. It felt a little small under her now, but as a child, this had

push her so high she felt

every time

a switch and chase the boys

foster brothers never meant any harm, and whenever she ran

meant to Calliope. She loved it here. What she missed most, though,

She'd tried everything to save him, but no one could have helped, not really. That sense of helplessness had haunted her for years, making her walk away from

finally come to terms with it. She'd made

the yard, they headed

looked almost exactly the way Calliope remembered, barely

was spotless-no dust anyone