bars. Grace paled. When she heard
Cara’s clear voice ring out, she ran into her room and slammed the door, which bounced
back, remaining ajar.
Grace threw herself down on the bed,
but picked up her head when she heard Jake’s faint words coming from the other
room.
“Gee, I didn’t think my playing was
that bad?”
“It’s not you, it’s that song. It
was our mother’s favorite. Be right back.” Cara went into the hall and knocked
softly. “ Pookie , it’s me. Can I come in?”
“Go away,” Grace said through the
small opening.
Cara gently pushed her way in. “Don’t
blame Jake, he didn’t know. Come on, what’s really bothering you?”
“Nothing. I’m fine. Just missing
mom.” Cara sank down next to her sister, so she could look into Grace’s eyes.
“ Pookie ,
you’re not fine. You’re troubled. Something has happened, or is happening, and
I want to help you, but I have to know what it is.”
“You can’t help me, Cara. You can’t.
I’m stupid. I made a mistake. I’ll get over it…eventually. Please, just leave
it alone.” Grace stared at her hands.
Cara sighed. “I suppose you’re too
old for me to force it out of you. I wish you’d open up. There’s nothing so terrible
you can’t tell me. We can get through this together.”
“Please, Cara. I know you mean well,
but I have to deal with this on my own.”
“Does it have to do with Jake? Poor
guy. Out there mooning around, giving you longing looks, and you won’t even glance
at him. Is it because of what happened at the premiere?”
“It’s complicated. He’s not mooning.
How many times do I have to say…I don’t want to talk about it.”
Cara pursed her lips, let out a
breath, and then hugged Grace. “Whatever it is, I love you. You’re my sister no
matter what.” The women stood up. Grace took a deep, shuddering breath.
“I know mom’s songs make you miss
her. I miss her, too. Don’t you think she’d be so proud of Sarah?” Cara’s eyes
watered. Grace gave her a hug. “We have a house full of people who love us and
want to celebrate. You and I have to dig down inside and find a place to be
happy along with them,” Cara said, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “Think you
can do that?”
Grace nodded. Together they returned
to the living room.
“How about ‘Jingle Bells’?” Jake
asked, his gaze darting from sister to sister.
Gracie managed a small smile and a
nod as Jake began to sing with the sounds from the keyboard. Sarah and Grant
joined in. Then Cara and lastly, Grace, who stood directly behind Jake, resting
her hand on his shoulder.
* * * *
Jake played a few songs until dinner
was served. An amazing buffet of ham, scalloped potatoes, Jane’s famous mac and
cheese, Brussel sprouts, salad, homemade biscuits,
and homemade applesauce with raisins crowded the sideboard and table.
She
doesn’t want me here. Why did I come? Stupid. Pushing yourself on her. Give her
some space. Jake filled a plate with food and took a seat next to Sarah. He
noticed Grace glance at him and frown. If
you want me to sit next to you, be nice to me. He turned his attention to the
young girl.
“Are you worried Santa won’t find
you here with us?” Sarah asked him as she took a forkful of mac and cheese.
Jake stifled a smile. “From what I
hear, he can find you anywhere. So I’m not worried.”
“ Ewww .
You’re gonna eat those? Yuck!” Sarah pointed to Jake’s Brussel sprouts.
“Sarah, don’t make fun of someone’s
food choices,” Grant said.
“I love Brussel sprouts, Sarah. You will too, when you get older. They’re an acquired taste,
adults only,” Jake offered as he took a forkful of the vegetable.
“ Ack -choired?”
“It means developed over time, not
something you like right away,” her father explained.
“ Lotta big
words.” She turned her attention back to her food.
“That’s the best mac and cheese I’ve
ever eaten,” Jake said.
“My aunt Jane makes it. Yeah.
Cara’s clear voice ring out, she ran into her room and slammed the door, which bounced
back, remaining ajar.
Grace threw herself down on the bed,
but picked up her head when she heard Jake’s faint words coming from the other
room.
“Gee, I didn’t think my playing was
that bad?”
“It’s not you, it’s that song. It
was our mother’s favorite. Be right back.” Cara went into the hall and knocked
softly. “ Pookie , it’s me. Can I come in?”
“Go away,” Grace said through the
small opening.
Cara gently pushed her way in. “Don’t
blame Jake, he didn’t know. Come on, what’s really bothering you?”
“Nothing. I’m fine. Just missing
mom.” Cara sank down next to her sister, so she could look into Grace’s eyes.
“ Pookie ,
you’re not fine. You’re troubled. Something has happened, or is happening, and
I want to help you, but I have to know what it is.”
“You can’t help me, Cara. You can’t.
I’m stupid. I made a mistake. I’ll get over it…eventually. Please, just leave
it alone.” Grace stared at her hands.
Cara sighed. “I suppose you’re too
old for me to force it out of you. I wish you’d open up. There’s nothing so terrible
you can’t tell me. We can get through this together.”
“Please, Cara. I know you mean well,
but I have to deal with this on my own.”
“Does it have to do with Jake? Poor
guy. Out there mooning around, giving you longing looks, and you won’t even glance
at him. Is it because of what happened at the premiere?”
“It’s complicated. He’s not mooning.
How many times do I have to say…I don’t want to talk about it.”
Cara pursed her lips, let out a
breath, and then hugged Grace. “Whatever it is, I love you. You’re my sister no
matter what.” The women stood up. Grace took a deep, shuddering breath.
“I know mom’s songs make you miss
her. I miss her, too. Don’t you think she’d be so proud of Sarah?” Cara’s eyes
watered. Grace gave her a hug. “We have a house full of people who love us and
want to celebrate. You and I have to dig down inside and find a place to be
happy along with them,” Cara said, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “Think you
can do that?”
Grace nodded. Together they returned
to the living room.
“How about ‘Jingle Bells’?” Jake
asked, his gaze darting from sister to sister.
Gracie managed a small smile and a
nod as Jake began to sing with the sounds from the keyboard. Sarah and Grant
joined in. Then Cara and lastly, Grace, who stood directly behind Jake, resting
her hand on his shoulder.
* * * *
Jake played a few songs until dinner
was served. An amazing buffet of ham, scalloped potatoes, Jane’s famous mac and
cheese, Brussel sprouts, salad, homemade biscuits,
and homemade applesauce with raisins crowded the sideboard and table.
She
doesn’t want me here. Why did I come? Stupid. Pushing yourself on her. Give her
some space. Jake filled a plate with food and took a seat next to Sarah. He
noticed Grace glance at him and frown. If
you want me to sit next to you, be nice to me. He turned his attention to the
young girl.
“Are you worried Santa won’t find
you here with us?” Sarah asked him as she took a forkful of mac and cheese.
Jake stifled a smile. “From what I
hear, he can find you anywhere. So I’m not worried.”
“ Ewww .
You’re gonna eat those? Yuck!” Sarah pointed to Jake’s Brussel sprouts.
“Sarah, don’t make fun of someone’s
food choices,” Grant said.
“I love Brussel sprouts, Sarah. You will too, when you get older. They’re an acquired taste,
adults only,” Jake offered as he took a forkful of the vegetable.
“ Ack -choired?”
“It means developed over time, not
something you like right away,” her father explained.
“ Lotta big
words.” She turned her attention back to her food.
“That’s the best mac and cheese I’ve
ever eaten,” Jake said.
“My aunt Jane makes it. Yeah.
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