Page 54 of Nixon’s Promise

I wasn’t sure what I thought I could say to him to calm him down, but one look at him told me there were no words that would soothe the beast.

“You got homework?” he asked Zack.

“No.”

“You have time to help me this afternoon or do you have chores around here?” Nix continued.

Zack looked at me and asked, “McKenna?”

“If you could help me throw down a few bales of hay, I can do the rest.”

“Me and Nix will get the bales for you,” Zack proclaimed.

Apparently, Zack knew the perfect words to mollify Nixon’s irritation. With a nod of approval to my brother, Nix stood. He made his way around the table, tugged me up from my seat, and pulled me tight against his chest.

“Thanks for lunch.” My face flamed red and I prayed my siblings didn’t catch on to his double meaning. “Got shit to do.” Nixon leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

“Will you be back for dinner?” Mandy asked.

Both Nix and I turned to look at my sister.

“Is that all right with you?”

“Well, yeah, of course,” she answered.

I started to crack a smile and wondered if Nixon would give her the same lecture he’d given me when I answered the same way.

“Then I’ll be back,” he told her.

“Can we make tacos, Micky?”

Tacos were her favorite. I fried my own shells and made fresh salsa. Though the salsa wouldn’t be as good as it is in the summer when I use tomatoes from the garden, it would still be great.

“Sure, I’ll have to go to the store.”

“Let me throw my stuff in my room and I’ll go with you.” She started down the hall and looked back over her shoulder. “See ya, Nix.”

Then she was gone.

I stood frozen, wondering what on earth had just happened, when Nixon gave me a squeeze.

“Progress,” he whispered.

That wasn’t progress—that was a phenomenon of epic proportions. I could understand how Nix might think it was as simple as making a little headway, however, he couldn’t comprehend how difficult it had been to see Mandy silently struggling. I hadn’t heard her ask for something or make a comment in a non-bitchy tone in so long I thought I was going to cry.

“Yeah.”

With a gentle lip touch, he moved away and headed for the door.

“Be back later, McKenna,” Zack said, but didn’t move.

“Yeah. See ya.”

My brother continued to stare at me and finally he gave me a grin that melted my heart. My throat started to clog, the stinging behind my eyes intensified, and my nose felt funny. I wasn’t going to cry. Zack shook his head and with a low wave, followed Nixon out the door.

I didn’t care how crazy they thought I was, my family was healing.

And it was because of Nixon.