Free What I've Done by Jen Naumann

who only know California weather, yes?” She brings us down a small slope of a hill. When our feet hit the warm sand, we discover behind the patio there is an oval shaped hot tub nestled inside a group of white flowering bushes.
    The view of the ocean from the hot tub is spectacular. The nearest houses are hidden by more white flowering bushes so it feels kind of like you are alone on a deserted island. In the very far distance you can see the start of the public beaches where we have spent many afternoons with Gabe. The early afternoon has brought a variety of people out to enjoy another ideal day on the beach. Further out in the water I see a cluster of surfers bobbing around as they wait to catch the next big wave. I can only imagine how much the view will only continue to improve once the sun begins to set.
    Rose stands on the steps leading up to the hot tub and peers down at the still water behind a translucent cover. “Do we take our baths in here?”
    It hadn’t occurred to me until now that my little sister has probably never seen a hot tub before. She has lived such a sad, sheltered life. But in the short time since our mother’s death we have been given more opportunities than I could have dreamed of. It only continues to get better and better, which is starting to scare me.
    Svetlana laughs again, sounding delighted. I can see in her eyes that she already adores my little sister almost as much as I do.
    “It’s like a little pool, Barbie,” I tell her. “You wear your swimsuit in it.”
    “We have cover locked for kids but I show Tasha where to find key.” Svetlana says. She taps Rose lightly on the nose. “You girls are hungry, yes?”
    Rose looks to me with questioning eyes and I nod my approval.
    “Yes, please,” Rose answers.
    Whenever we had spent a meal away from Gabe in the past week the food portions had become smaller and smaller. I was to the point where I basically quit eating unless Gabe brought us something. As always, my priority was to make sure my sister was well fed and there was very little money left to make it happen.
    Svetlana grins at Rose’s polite answer. “I will make sandwich for you.”
    My stomach growls angrily as we follow her back into the house where she begins opening cupboards. I settle Rose on a stool at the massive marble island stretching through the kitchen before asking Svetlana how I can help.
    “You crack egg,” she says, handing me a metal bowl. I nod and walk over to the large stainless steel refrigerator, yanking on the cool handle and peering inside. I find the carton of eggs and place them on the countertop beside Svetlana.
    “You girls go to school tomorrow. Your school is very nice I think.” She takes the bowl from me once I have cracked the egg and begins mixing the other ingredients.
    Tears came to my eyes when we were promised by Melissa, our new social worker, that she would get us into school right away. I decided with little deliberation that being placed in foster care this time wasn’t going to be nearly as bad as I had feared. We have a nice home to sleep in, food to eat, a way to attend school and even brand new clothes Melissa had taken us shopping for on our way here.
    I have worried so many times that Rose won’t grow up to be a well-adjusted adult. Maybe without our mother’s addictions controlling our lives and living in a place like this I will finally be able to give my little sister the normal life that she deserves. Her birthday is not long after mine, and I vow to give her a real birthday party this year, with cake, streamers and party hats. I can imagine how excited she will be if we can even have her party on the beach in the backyard of this awesome house.
    But if our true identities are discovered they may decide to ship us back to Minnesota and this fantasy life will be all over with. Once I do turn eighteen they aren’t going to hand Rose over to me without a job or a place to live. I have been in the system long enough