The Price of a Gift (The Price of Secrets Series) by Ashley Drake

side. We love you." Still nothing.
    Even Jaycee gave it a shot. "I bet it's not a bad as you think it is. Tell us, we might be able to help."
    Kayla was just sitting there taking her straw and stirring her ice around and around in her cup. I was beginning to wonder if she even heard us at all, when she finally spoke. "I'm afraid if I tell you, you guys won't treat me the same."
    Jaycee tried to break the ice. "Are you trying to tell us you're gay? Because if you are that's cool, just don't start crushing on me cause I don't swing that way. But if I did you would so be my type."
    Kayla gave a small laugh, exactly what Jaycee was hoping for. "No, I'm not gay. And sorry Jaycee but if I was, Hannah would be more my type." We all laughed, relieving some of the tension that had built up since we sat down. After we quieted down, Kayla told us why she had been so upset lately. "My house is going into foreclosure and my family and I will have to move out. We have to find a place to rent. So I’m feeling guilty that I'm here spending, what little bit of money my mom could spare, on clothes." She started crying. Of course my heart was breaking right along with hers, so I started to cry. Jaycee looked away until she could compose herself.
    Phoebe put her arm around Kayla and started to tear up too. "What happened? I knew things were t ight for you but not this bad?"
    "Last year my Dad's work gave him a choice. They could let him go and he could sign up for unemployment or he could stay on but would have to take a pay cut. A ten thousand dollar a year pay cut. That was almost the same as a years’ worth of house payments. I know I'm being selfish to think this, but everyone at school is going to find out. I will be the butt end of jokes. Or worse, pitied."
    That got Jaycee fired up. "The hell they will. We will kick their ass's first. I will cuse every last one of them and owe Hannah so much money for her jar, she will be able to pay for all of our senior trips!"
    While Jaycee was ranting, I was peaking a little. I think I had an idea. "I'm on board with Jaycee, as a great plan B. But I'm pretty sure my Mom can help. Has your house already went into foreclosure and you have been given a date to move out?"
    "No, not yet. We received a letter stating the bank is turning it over and it will be going into foreclosure." Kayla's answer was what I knew I was going to hear.
    "Listen, it won't let you keep your house but my mom can talk to your bank and she can sell the house. It will never have to show as a foreclosure and no one will ever know at school."
    Kayla wasn't convinced. "Hannah, we were going to sell it when dad first took a pay cut. But the house isn't worth what we paid for it."
    "Don't worry about it. I have heard my mom talk to sellers before. It's like a distress sale or quick sale. I don't know how it works but I do know my mom is the best. She will help you and your family any way she can." The more I was saying it, the more I could see it in my head that I was right. I realized that I was having a premonition without concentrating or even trying. How freakin awesome was that?
    I looked over at Jaycee, wanting to share my news. I saw by her expression that the entire table thought I had lost my mind. "Are you ok Han? You're just sitting there looking like you are constipated and happy about it." Of course that question came from Jaycee.
    "Yes, I'm sorry. I was just seeing how all this could work." Jaycee caught on and arched one eye, looking impressed. I continued talking to Kayla. "You just have to get your parents talking to my mom. You should call your mom now. Tell her not to get mad at you for telling us. We won't tell a soul and neither will my mom."
    I knew Kayla was worried about telling her parents that the three of us knew. She walked out toward the bathroom so she could have a conversation with her mom without background noise from the food court making it hard to hear.
    Phoebe had been quite this whole time. She