Read Online It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder - Free Book Online Page B

trip?”
    She nodded. “I’m just getting back from staying with my family in Hawaii. That’s where I’m originally from.”
    â€œOh, cool,” I said. “Which island?”
    â€œThe Big Island.”
    â€œWow. I’d love to go there someday.” I pointed to her suitcases. “Want some help carrying these upstairs?”
    â€œOh, that’d be great. Thanks. Times like this it’d be nice to have an elevator, you know?”
    I grabbed one of the suitcases and started up the stairs. “Is Hawaii as beautiful as it looks in pictures?”
    I could hear her flip-flops clicking behind me. “Well, even more so, I think. No other place like it, really.”
    When we reached the top of the stairs, I stopped and let her go ahead of me. She pulled her keys out of her purse.
    â€œIs it your family who is opening the cupcake shop?” she asked.
    â€œHopefully. I mean, we’re supposed to open August fifteenth.”
    She turned back and looked at me, a puzzled look on her face. “You don’t sound too sure. Things not going well?”
    â€œOh, they’re going fine, I guess. We’re just nervousbecause Beatrice’s Brownies is going to be opening a few blocks over.”
    She fiddled with her keys, trying to find the right one. “Well, I like cupcakes a lot better than brownies, so you’ll have at least one customer. I’ll have to mark my calendar.”
    The door swung open, and she hung back so I could go in ahead of her. Past the little entryway was the family room, just like our apartment. But that was where the similarities ended.
    â€œWhoa,” I said as I set the suitcase down. Every wall was painted with a beautiful Hawaiian scene. Palm trees, a blue and green ocean, surfers, and even a girl doing the hula in a grass skirt.
    â€œThis is incredible. Who did it?” I asked, looking at Lana.
    She smiled. “I did. I’m so glad you like it.”
    â€œYou’re an artist? Really? Do you do paintings, too, or just, um, walls?”
    She laughed. “Murals are my specialty, but yes, I also paint on canvas.”
    Just then, I realized that Sophie would probablybe wondering about me. “Oh, man, I have to go. Sorry, Lana. My friend is waiting for me.”
    â€œNo problem. It was great meeting you, Isabel. I’ll go over and introduce myself to your parents. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
    â€œBye!”
    I ran down the stairs and hopped on my bike, my feet pumping faster than the thoughts whirling around in my brain. Now I had one more cool thing to tell Sophie. So much had happened in the past few weeks, I didn’t even know where to start.
    A few minutes later I reached the street with the yellow duplex that I’d called home for five fun-filled years. When Sophie saw me pedaling toward her, she jumped out of the grass where she’d been sitting and came running down the sidewalk, waving her arms in the air like a crazy person.
    Laughing, I glided to a stop and put my foot down. I stood beneath a tall maple tree in front of a big white Colonial-style house Mom had always admired. It was hot out, and I’d worked up a sweat on the short ride over. It felt nice to stand in thecool shade for a couple of seconds, the smell of cut grass drifting through the air.
    Once Sophie reached me, she grabbed my hand, jumping up and down, flapping my arm as she screamed, “I’m home, I’m home, I’m home!”
    I laughed. “I know, I know, I know!”
    â€œDid you miss me?” she asked.
    â€œAre you kidding? I have so much to tell you. Get your bike and let’s get something to eat!”
    While I waited for her, I pulled out my passport book for a quick note, since Lana’s and Sophie’s trips were both on my mind.
    There are so many places I want to visit.
    When I’m a flight attendant,
    I can visit the Grand Canyon one day
    and be in Hawaii the