“Nothing is wrong with him,” Hazel said bluntly as she peered down into Ella’s face. “The doctors think he has autism, but we think he’s special like you guys are.” She shrewdly looked at my siblings before she gripped Ella’s face gently. She turned in to the side, and I saw a sheen of tears in her eyes for a moment before she said, “You look just like your father, but you have Miranda’s tongue.”
Greg was well aware of my sibling’s gifts. Since he could read the gifted, he saw it immediately. We would have liked to keep it from them longer, but we had no other choice. We couldn’t hide the children from them at meal times. They had respected our wishes by not approaching them until we were ready for them to.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Ella said staidly before she curled into Remy’s lap with a brush and hair tie.
Remy immediately started to brush it. Ella no longer came to me to get her hair braided. She knew my mountain of a man had a soft spot for her and liked to exploit it whenever possible. She had most of the guys wrapped around her finger.
Hazel barked with laughter as some of the adults tried to hide their smiles. “Definitely Miranda.”
We were trying to nip this attitude of Ella’s that she was starting to acquire. She had matured quickly in the time she had gotten her gift. The influence from the older girls she’d begun to hang out with wasn’t helping, either. She was getting too big for her britches.
“Mom,” Miranda said in a resigned sigh. “I really wasn’t that bad. It was just Andy was such a saint. Everyone would have looked like trouble children compared to him.”
“Can you tell me more stories about my dad?” Ella asked eagerly.
“Let’s save the stories for later,” Will stated with a gentle smile. “We have cookies, and soon we’ll have hot chocolate. Would you like any?” He turned to everyone who had just joined us. “We have some leftover prime rib, ham, and other sides if you want something heartier.”
“I’ll make some coffee, too.” Troy jumped up, clapping his hands. “Hazel, please take my seat.”
“I hope you’re telling me that as a gentleman and not because you’re calling me old,” Hazel said saucily as she walked over to the chair. Hazel was older, but you couldn’t tell by the way she moved around. She was nimble and quick, which was a surprise, considering how long she had spent in an assisted living facility. “I’ll take some prime rib with horseradish sauce, if you have it, and surprise me with the sides.”
Troy laughed smoothly. “A gentleman always gives up a seat for a lady,” he gave a pointed look at Jaxson. “I’ll get your plate as well.”
“Miranda, please take my seat,” Jaxson said with false brightness as he got up from the couch.
Alex hissed, clutching his head as he crept towards the boy Miranda had just put down. The boy had ran and was now hiding under one of the end tables. He was a solid little boy of around three. He had our wild curls, but he had the same russet color as his father. He looked like a miniature version of Greg, with our curls and vivid green eyes like me, Micah, and my grandmother.
“Be careful,” Greg said with a weary sigh as he sat in an open sling back chair. He was older than Miranda by twelve years, and even though he didn’t look like he was in his mid-forties, generally, he looked tired. I imagined caring for a child such as Harry could be taxing after a while. “He will kick, and sometimes hit, when he’s afraid.”
I went to stop Alex before Jace put an arm around the back of the couch and lowered his head next to my ear. `
“He’s afraid,” Jace whispere
d to me leaning back. “But he’s not going to hurt him.” He gave me a pointed look, and my eyes widened.
I knew Jace was weak now with my struggle, but I also knew he could still feel strong feelings from time to time. Harry must be exuding strong feelings for him to sense it.
“I’m not the greatest cook,” Miranda muttered self-mockingly as she eyed Alex kneeling next to the end table. “Mom barely touched the ham and mash potatoes I’d made. I’ll just take cookies and hot chocolate, please.”
“You’re trying babe, that’s all that matters,” Greg quickly reassured her. “Prime rib does sound good, though.”
Miranda laughed and shook her head. “I saw you try to stomach my food. I told you there’s a reason I let you cook all the time. How about you, Blake? Do you cook? I know Andy was restricted to eggs, bacon, ramen noodles, spaghetti, and anything from the frozen food section.”
I wasn’t in the mood to entertain her. I knew she was trying, but I wasn’t ready to act like we could be friends or that she could mend our relationship—or lack thereof—so easily.
“Blake’s an excellent cook,” Kade stated as he went towards Alex. He looked just as anxious as I felt. Alex had filled out, but he was still the smallest second grader in his class. Harry was a big and sturdy three-year-old.
“How about you, Kade? Do you like to cook? What is your interest?” Miranda smiled warmly at him.
“I’m learning to cook.” He didn’t seem to put off by her intrusiveness. “And I really like the lessons I’m getting in martial arts, but I use to play football.”
“What position?” Greg asked in interest. “Will and I used to play back in the day. Did the boys ever get into it?” he asked Will.
“I play tight end,” Kade answered.
“Remy, Jace, and Jaxson all played,” Will said with a small smile.
“Brace yourselves,” Megan whispered loudly towards us. “Here come the high school stories.”