Meanwhile, Calliope finally had a little time for herself. With the holidaysing up, she decided it was time to head out to the countryside and sort out some things with her old family house.


    Ss had offered to go with her, and of course he was happy to tag along. So, after checking their schedules, they picked a date and set off for the country.


    The ce where Calliope used to live with her grandfather wasn''t exactly off the grid, but it was still a bit of a trek from Capitalton.


    She and Ss flew to Albion City, spent the night there, and set off for the vige the next morning. Ss had a driver waiting for them at the hotel.


    As soon as Calliope arrived in the little vige, she felt right at home. She strolled along the familiar streets, pointing things out to Ss as they went.


    "That''s the mayor''s house over there," she said, nodding toward a cozy-looking cottage. "He''s a really sweet guy. When I was a kid, he''d always sneak me a few jellybeans."


    She pointed across the way. "And that''s Nelly''s ce. Her son''s a big shot now. He works overseas, married a girl from Ennd, I think. I went to their wedding a couple years ago. The food was amazing."


    "Nelly''s the best," Calliope added. "She used to bring over homemade pies for me and Grandpa all the time."


    She smiled, spotting a familiar old dog ambling by. "That dog''s been around forever, but he''s still sharp as a tack. Once, a burr tried to sneak into the vige, and he chased him right off."


    As they walked, Calliope kept up a steady stream of stories, her voice full of nostalgia.


    The old golden retriever, moving a bit slower these days, still recognized her. As soon as he saw her, his tail started wagging like crazy.


    "I haven''t been back in ages," she admitted. "After Grandpa passed, I barely came home at all."


    "There''s been a lot of changes," she went on, ncing around at the tidy houses and well-kept gardens. “Everything''s looking so much nicer now; people have really fixed up their homes."


    They wandered down the narrow countryne, a handful of Ss''s security guys trailing behind. They looked hriously out of ce in the sleepy vige.


    Now and then, locals would wave and call out greetings to Calliope. When they noticed Ss, they''d ask if he was her husband and joke about not getting an invite to the wedding.


    Calliope chatted with everyone, sometimes introducing Ss.


    "Callie, honey, are you staying the night?" one plump, cheerful woman called out, grabbing her hand warmly. "If you need a ce, you juste stay with Aunt Martha, all right?"


    She beamed at Ss. "You two shoulde by for supper! I''ll pick up something nice and make a good old roast. How does that sound?"


    "Oh, and the mayor probably doesn''t know you''re home yet," Martha went on, "I''ll go tell him! You''re heading over to your granddad''s ce, right? rfoy


    We''ve all been keeping an eye on it for you, still spick and span!"


    Calliope grinned. "Thank you so much! We''ll go check it out first. You go do your shopping."


    "Alright, sweetie! Oh, you''re still as pretty and charming as you were when you were little!" Marthaughed, heading down thene, already spreading the news: "Calliope''s back!"


    Ss nced around, taking in the scene. "You grew up here, huh? Looks like everybody loves you."


    It was obvious the whole vige seemed to light up when Calliope was around: Even the old dog wasz practically dancing with excitement. The older folks treated her like a daughtering home for


    Christmas.


    "Of course!" Calliope said with a wink. "I was this vige''s golden girl. They all spoiled me rotten."


    She''d been the smart, lively kid who knew a little first aid, helped out around the vige, and lived with her granddad and older brothers. The whole vige, young and old had always doted on her.