“It looks like mostly sleet to me,” Jack said as he followed Wally inside. “And that wind is really picking up. It was a dicey drive back from the Harper farm, but I got us some extra firewood.”
“Yeah, Rachel,” Wally added, “I don’t know about driving over to Granny’s in the dark in this weather.”
“Well, everyone is more than welcome to bunk here,” Jack offered. “You’ll have to make do anywhere you can find a spot, but we have plenty of extra quilts in storage.”
“Jack,” Randy asked, forgetting their earlier showdown, “do you think the storm is set in? I think we may need to take Grant to the hospital.”
“Can’t I just wait, since I have an appointment in the morning?” Grant begged. “I really just want to rest. I’m freezing as it is…I don’t want to get out in the arctic air in the middle of a storm.”
“You’re burning up,” David gulped.
“Let’s get you some warm clothes and take your temperature, Baby,” Nora said as she led Grant to his room.
“I know all these roads well; I’m more than willing to drive you if you think he needs to go,” Jack told Randy.
“Thanks,” Randy nodded appreciatively. “I mean that.”
The following morning, Hailey was sitting Indian style in a kitchen chair, her furry, Tennessee orange slippers protruding beneath her knees, her hair knotted up in a ponytail holder.
Grant sat to her right looking pale and exhausted, wearing glasses and a sleeveless, white, ribbed undershirt that revealed numerous bruises.
Jessica was to Hailey’s left; she sipped from her coffee, both of her perfectly manicured hands plastered around her cup. Her freshly blow-dried hair flowed down the back of her revealingly snug, spaghetti-strap nightshirt.
David sat at the table eating a granola bar, even as Nora and Melissa stood at the stove making breakfast.
Emily, her hair tied up in a country blue towel, stood at the refrigerator, pouring herself a glass of chocolate milk as Joanna reached past her for the orange juice.
“Look!” Jessica said proudly as Nora placed a platter of eggs in the middle of the table. Jessica swept her hair to the side and pointed at the tiny, red sun on the back of her shoulder, a fake tattoo courtesy of Wally.
“Lovely,” Nora scoffed.
“I have one too,” Emily announced. “It’s a heart!”
Rachel walked in, dressed for the day, admiring the bracelet Wally had given her the night before. In fact, he had handed out all of his Christmas gifts during the storm-forced, impromptu sleepover because he was simply too excited to wait until Christmas morning.
“It’s beautiful,” Jessica smiled at Rachel.
“Thank you,” Rachel smiled radiantly as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
“That is a classy piece, right?” Wally grinned proudly.
“There are so many things I could say right now,” Grant shook his head, “but, lucky for you, Wally, my mama taught me never to engage in a battle of wits with someone who is unarmed.”
“Humph,” David nodded to his sisters. “And to think that back when we were all coming up, she was still sticking to her old notion of if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
“Get you some breakfast, Wally,” Nora motioned toward the table as she sat down a plate of bacon and sausage. “Biscuits are in the oven.”
“Hope you like them burnt,” Rachel quipped.
“Wally, you promised me strawberry Pop-Tarts from your suitcase,” Emily poked out her bottom lip.
Wally struck a pose, pointing at Emily. “Emmers, it’s like we share a brain…”
“Emily’s?” Grant raised an eyebrow.
“I was just thinking, what was it that I meant to bring to the kitchen?” Wally snapped his fingers. “Boom! Then you said it! Pop-Tarts for my favorite girl!”
“Hurry up, Wally,” Rachel called as Wally jogged away. “I need to ask your advice on something really important before we go into town.”
“Well, that can’t be a step in the right direction,” Grant said aloud.
“I’m being serious, Brat!” Rachel scolded.
“I can see that,” Grant nodded as he adjusted his glasses. “And, you should ask Wally’s advice,” he told Rachel.
Rachel seemed pleased with his change of heart. “Really?”
“Sure,” Grant shrugged, as though confused by Rachel’s surprise. “Absolutely… just ask him what he would do… then do the exact opposite. It’s fail proof. Good thinking, Rach!”
Hailey stared at Grant. “Be nice,” she insisted.
“I’m trying,” Grant grinned.
“Try harder,” Hailey nodded, rolling her eyes.
Rachel ran off after Wally, leaving everyone staring at Grant.
