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

that swing just for her. He'd doted on her endlessly. Even though her parents had abandoned her, she was always happy here,

for

and sat on

her now, but as a child, this had been her throne. She'd spend hours here, and her foster brothers would come out to

so high she felt like she was flying. She'd

course every

and

she ran to "protect" them, they'd turn around and shield

could tell how much this place meant to Calliope. She loved it

but no one could have helped,

she'd finally come to terms with it. She'd made

yard, they headed

house looked almost exactly the way Calliope remembered, barely changed since she'd left.

was spotless-no dust anyone