Emily, carrying plastic shopping bags of supplies on both arms, stared at Nora, Jack and Hailey all huddled together. “Are we interrupting something?” she asked.
“No, Sweetie,” Nora shook her head. “It was perfect timing, but I do have some bad news. Daddy has a meeting and isn’t going to make it down to visit tomorrow.”
“That stinks,” Emily sighed. “Does Grant know yet?”
Nora nodded, eager to change the subject. “What is it that you gals need my help with?”
“Where have y’all been?” Jack asked.
“Roadtrip to Wally World!” Jessica exclaimed. “We have markers and glitter and streamers! Maude is going to be so proud she put us in charge of making signs for her bake sale fundraiser!”
“You bought hot pink signs for the basketball team’s fundraiser?” Hailey scoffed.
Jessica smiled facetiously at Hailey, ignored her and moved her eyes back to Nora. “We promised Maude we would have all the signs done by morning, so do you mind giving us a hand?”
“We have to run by Granny’s house tomorrow after school, so she can help us bake brownies and make cookies,” Emily added.
“You can’t go to Granny’s after school tomorrow; Grant and I have a game,” Hailey chimed in. “You guys are coming, right?”
“We’ll be a little late,” Jessica shook her head dismissively, “but we’ll be there by the last inning or whatever,” she rolled her eyes.
Hailey kicked at the air in front of her sister. “You know good and well there are no innings in basketball! And you know good and well that the signs for our bake sale are supposed to be green and white and promote team spirit and town pride! The point is to raise money for our trip to the Christmas tourney while getting all of Hope Hull pumped up and excited about the playoffs!”
Jessica rolled her eyes. “Pink excites me! Brownies pump me up! The goal is the same, Hails…just go with it…maybe even thank me for the time I am about to spend dedicating my night to helping your cause!”
Grant walked past, pulling a gray hoodie over his head.
Hailey turned quickly. “Did you already get a shower?”
“Yep,” Grant said, not looking back as he continued into the kitchen.
Jessica glanced at Emily and then back at her sister, confused by Grant’s coldness. “Whoa…”
“That’s right,” Hailey nodded, wrinkling her nose at her sister, “I have bigger problems than dealing with your signs!”
“Grant,” Jack called, “I was thinking I would make us some hot chocolate; how does that sound?”
Moments later, Grant returned to the living room from the kitchen. “No thanks,” he shook his head as he started out the back door.
“We have marshmallows!” Hailey exclaimed enticingly.
“I said I don’t want any, Hailey, okay?” Grant barked back, his eyes flashing anger as he spun back toward her. “Back off.”
Hailey frowned, holding back her desire to yell at him for snapping at her and embarrassing her in front of everyone. “Grant, you shouldn’t transfer your anger toward your daddy onto other people who are just trying to help you,” she sighed as she stormed off toward the kitchen.
“Hailey, don’t walk into that wall; it might hurt,” Grant nodded sarcastically.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Hailey grumbled, spinning around.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Grant rolled his eyes. “I thought this must be the time of night when we give each other outrageously obvious and obnoxious advice. Is that not what we’re doing?”
“Just go wherever you’re going,” Hailey pointed.
“I will,” Grant said confidently.
“Grant, do you want to talk?” Jack asked, his voice stern yet sympathetic.
Grant turned around again, one foot out the back door. “Coach, my dad is a very knowledgeable military strategist,” he said in defense of his father. “He may be retired, but our country is at war right now, and my dad’s experience and expertise is that of an invaluable predecessor. Perhaps you understand why his priorities at the moment don’t include a podunk town’s high school basketball game? I do.” He closed the door behind himself.
“Grant, don’t go far,” Nora sighed.
“Mom, just let him be alone with his thoughts for awhile…he’ll live,” Emily insisted. “We really need to get these signs done!”
“He’ll be fine if he doesn’t catch his death of cold out there; he’s already sick,” Nora exhaled, knowing from experience that if she tried to intervene she would only make the situation worse. “Come-on, girls,” she said, forcing a smile. “Let’s see what all you got.”
As Nora, Jack and the girls worked busily at the kitchen table, Hailey peeked through the blinds on the back door; Grant was still sitting on the porch steps, where he had been for the past ten minutes, so, unable to stand by any longer, she slipped outside.
Grant glanced over his shoulder to see who was coming to offer their sympathy, and he groaned when he saw Hailey. “Please just leave me alone,” he insisted. “You, of all people, should know that I just want to be alone right now.”
“Your little remarks, like the ones about your dad’s job, may shut others up,” Hailey shook her head. ”Your intelligence may intimidate them or your harsh tone may keep them at arm’s length, but that isn’t going to work with me. I may be an idiot to still care about you after the way you just talked to me in front of everyone, but I do still care, and, just this once, I’m going to give you a pass. You try to cover up your pain with your big words and your fancy stories, but, deep down, you’re just as confused, if not more confused, than the rest of us with college on the horizon, and you are just too darn proud to let anyone try to help you! There are people who care, Grant…and I’m one of them.”
“Why don’t you try walking a mile in my shoes before you judge me?” Grant said harshly.
“Okay,” Hailey snickered as she plopped down next to him. “See! When you start spouting clichés at me, that’s when I know how truly confused you really are, Buster!”
Grant tried to hide his smile.
“I saw that,” Hailey pointed cheerily.
