Trentadue.

                                    

                                          
Carina
When I got to Katherine's I was floored by everything else she had added, everything that was already decorated by the time I left the night before, now there was bean bag toss, a bartender (which 19 already seemed to be getting started on), karaoke.
 All packed into the confines of the house and the small patio since Seattle decided to continue pouring, which left the back yard limited to the cemented are being half covered by tarps.
It warmed my heart that she wanted to go all out for Maya this year, she told me she'd been saving up to do something nice for her and later for Mason. Katherine wanted to make up for all the lost time and I knew deep down Maya appreciated it.
Though right now thinking about Maya caused me ulcers, my stomach had not been able to settle for weeks.
I put my umbrella in the bin by the door and purse into the closet closest to the kitchen before looking for the host of it all to see how I could help. When I stepped in the back everyone welcomed me and I smiled. "CARINA!" 
Travis came over and immediately wrapped me in a big hug. "Hi! You're going to wet my clothes!" I squealed as he turned me in a full circle while wearing his red rain parka soaked in rain water.
"Ugh look at you, how is anything fair." My head fell back in laughter, then I looked down over my bell bottom high rise jeans, white camisole tucked in with my red knit cardigan also tucked inside. I wiped off the rain droplets that stuck to the soft fabric.
"You all better be helping Katherine, or you're never invited over again." I pointed around. Everyone nodding immediately wearing matching rain parkas, apparently all tasked with putting up the tarps and setting up the games along the patio. "Keep the speakers dry, there will be dancing later," I pointed around and everyone smiled.
Content with my little threat, I went back into the house to look for Katherine and hopefully run into Mason first before texting Maya to head over.Maybe I could settle this once and for all and finally get the weight off my body.
I saw Katherine with Alyssa trying to put up another banner in the living room and Mason waiting with the hammer to help. "Hey, can I talk to you?"
"Ummm I'm going to hang this banner." He pointed. I glared at him, seeing him swallow his nerves. My head turned, finding Andrea walking in.Perfect, Andrea thought arriving later saved him from helping. Nice try.
"Andrea, can you help with this banner? I need Mason." I took the hammer from his hand and gave it to my brother before dragging Mason to the kitchen.
The swinging door moving back and fourth as Mason looked everywhere but at me. "You need to tell Maya. Mason look at me, for god sake if anything let me help. How much do you owe? If we take care of it now then maybe Maya won't be so mad about it when you tell her."
"Carina no. I cannot let you do that! Just drop it. It's not your problem," He urged.
"Madonna mia, non so che cosa facere con voi. Mason, you are my family now. Like it or not and I care about you like a brother, like one of the people Maya loves most in this world. What if they do something to you again? Let me help you!" I exclaimed and let my hands fall to my sides.
"Carina, I've got this. This is my mess—"
"And you'll handle it? Per favore," I rolled my eyes. "How much do you owe? What if I help you get a loan, then at least you'll owe the government and not some idiota playing boss." Neither is really better, but... I gestured at the door, frustration starting to get the better of me.