When Grace’s hazel eyes softened, my throat tightened … so I looked across the table at my mom.
“If she hadn’t yelled at me, I wouldn’t have gotten on that plane. I would have missed …” I cleared my throat and crossed my arms, squeezing my elbow.
Mom's eyes misted, so I looked at Ruby leaning against Grace's shoulder, brown eyes wide with curiosity. When Grace's arm reached around Ruby's back, my tongue felt too big for my mouth.
“I didn’t realize how much I’d been missing, and I …” I stared at my empty plate as my words lodged in my chest.
The silence around the table was thick. I opened my mouth to finish, but all that emerged was a rough cough. Embarrassed, I dropped my hands into my lap and stared at them.
A blonde tornado knocked me sideways and slung her arms around my shoulders. I stiffened in surprise and almost pulled away before remembering Grace’s explanation that Mallory always craved touch.
I wrapped an arm around my sister’s puny waist, leaned into her bony chin, and let my eyes drop shut. She murmured into my hair, “We’re glad you’re here now, Alex.”
Mom wiped a tear away and stood up, brushing her legs. “Who wants dessert?"
Chapter 24Grace
During dessert, Ruby laughed as Alex and Mallory reverted to immature siblings, nearly stabbing each other with forks trying to get the last slice of pie, not knowing I had another one in the kitchen.
When Helen poured Jean another cup of coffee, I took Ruby to the sofa in the living room and sat beside Mallory, who was curled up texting.
At the hospital I maintained a professional distance, but four-year-olds didn’t understand personal space. She flipped through a stack of children’s books Helen found. When she climbed into my lap with her favorite, I breathed in the bubble gum scent of her hair.
“Twas the Night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not —”
“What were they stirring? When Grandma and I made cookies for Santa, she let me stir the batter.”
“You’re such a great helper. In this case, stirring means moving. It was after bedtime, and nobody was moving, not even a mouse.”
“MacKenzie has a brown mouse named Archie. What color is theirs?”
“This picture has a white one. Do you think his name is Archie?”
“No, that mouse looks like a girl. I think her name is Gladys.”
Mallory snorted. Where did Ruby come up with this stuff?
My gaze lifted to Alex leaning in the doorway, arms crossed and expression soft, until Ruby squirmed. “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas —”
“Who’s the Nick guy?”
As I read, Ruby tucked her chin under mine. Her soft breath against my neck reminded me of volunteering in the church nursery. As a Pastor’s Kid, our family spent all Sunday at church, so Elijah and I volunteered to babysit as a break from Bible study. Changing diapers and reading aloud from the Children’s Bible had been the highlight of my week.
Even though I worked with kids in the pediatric ward, it was clinical, ensuring they were safe and their parents had the necessary resources. I rarely had time to relax and be with one of my patients … especially one this curious.
“The children were nestled all snug —”
“How many children? Were they brothers and sisters? Or cousins? MacKenzie has two sisters and ten cousins. Ten! Can you believe that?”
“It must be a very loud house."
“They watch me when Grandma needs help. It’s so much fun there,” she said. I considered how quiet Ruby’s life must be, first with only Sarah and now with Jean. “Do you have brothers and sisters, Grace?”
“I grew up with three brothers,” I said carefully. “But I moved away.”
"If I had brothers or sisters, I’d never want to leave them," she said, voice tinged with sadness.
When my words caught in my throat, Mallory looked up in alarm to check my face. Reassured, she said to Ruby, “I’ve got two brothers, it’s not that great. My big brother’s over there.”
Alex unfurled his crossed arms and lumbered over. “You talking about me?”
“Ruby asked Grace what it’s like having brothers.” Alex hazarded a glance and I forced a smile. Mallory shrugged, “I told her they’re not that great.”
“Not that great?” Alex said, hands on his hips as a show for a giggling Ruby. “That’s it, move over, Shrimp. I’ve gotta clear up misconceptions.”
Mallory doubled down, settling deeper into her cushion. Alex lifted her easily and dumped her over a few feet to sit between us.
“See? That’s what it’s like to have a brother,” Mallory shoved his shoulder, which barely shifted. “I always wished I was an only child, like you.”
Alex tilted his head at her. “You did?”
“Didn’t you?”
“Never. You annoyed the sh-sh-shimmy out of me," he stumbled to cover his urge to curse, "but I never wanted to get rid of you. Especially when the whole family was here, I loved being in a house full of kids.”
“That’s because you got to boss me and Nick around,” she muttered.
