Carrie sometimes joined them for bedtime and sometimes she worked late at the boutique to help with closing or counting the drawers or something else. Tonight she was glad to be able to join the family for bedtime. It reminded her of when Chris and Cathy used to put her and Cory to bed in the attic. She felt at home cuddled next to her brother, her twin. Part of her wished she could stop aging while Cory caught up to her and they could be twins again. But part of her knew that this was their life now and at least she was grateful to have Cory back at all, no matter how old he was. Now if only Christopher would come here to them, somehow. But too many good things rarely happened to the Dollangager siblings and so Carrie did not expect Chris to ever shop up here.
Finally when the boys were asleep Carrie finished up the hot chocolate at the stove, making it how Henny had showed them long ago. She poured some into her own glass and took the marshmallows to drop inside the mug as Cathy stirred her own drink.
She nodded, stirring quietly. "I know. Nothing is technically going on, at least not in a bad way. It is just, I do not know how to say it. I am not used to things going well for us, you and Josh, I have a job, and a friend finally. You have different friends. The boys are doing well here. I guess I just feel lonely that it feels like we are pulling apart, even though I know we are not." She tried her best to explain her feelings.