A hug and two kisses on her cheeks.

We’ve always been really close, so I took Anne into my arms and gave a friendly kiss on both of her cheeks. We broke our embrace and we looked into each other’s eyes.

‘I missed ya, Anne,’ I told her, she giggled and replied in kind.

She grabbed my hand, dragging me into the house where Cassie and mom were waiting for us.

‘Come in, John. Mom made some chocolate cake for us!’ she said excitedly.

In the dining room, my aunt was waiting for us and we settled around the table. Anne blew out her eighteen candles and we enjoyed auntie’s cake—it was delicious. Everyone exchanged pleasant small talk about what we were doing and how we’ve been since last we had met. Eventually, the topic came to my cousin’s plans for the weekend.

‘Mom, I really want to go to that party! Jessy and all my other friends are going,’ Anne pleaded.

‘You know I don’t like you going to those house parties, honey,’ her mother explained, ‘I know what goes on, you’ll all be drinking and fooling around with boys there!’

‘But, mom, I’m eighteen now! I can do what I want,’ my cousin groaned.

‘As long as you live under our roof, I’ll still have a word or two to say about what you can and can’t do,’ her mother protested.

‘Come, sis. She’s a responsible girl and you only turn eighteen once,’ my mother said, ‘Let her have her fun.’

‘Thank you, auntie!’ Anne beamed at my mom, ‘See? Even your big sister thinks it’s ok.’

‘What, I’m the bad guy here?’ my aunt said dejectedly.

‘How about John goes with Anne to the party—play chaperone, so to say,’ my sister Cassie offered.

‘That’s a great idea!’ Anne yelled, nearly jumping from her seat, ‘Would that ease your mind, mom?’

Auntie sighed, ‘I guess that would be ok. Would that work for you, John?’