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She cupped his cheeks and looked at him. “No, it’s not. But it will be.” She left on those cryptic words.
“What did that mean?” He looked at his brother, who shrugged.
“Maggs, bud, we all know she can say stuff that only she understands,” Luke said.
Ford nodded. “True that.”
“So… breakfast?” Jack said.
“I need him to talk to me first,” Nash said at the same time.
“Okay, but we’ll stay in case he hits you again,” Luke said.
“I’m not hitting him again.” Ford rubbed his jaw. “And this is personal. I may talk to him about it one day in say ten years, but not you three.”
“Why? We’re excellent listeners,” Luke said.
“What’s going on in here?” Piper wandered in with Grace.
“Hi, Ford. Hi, Nash. What happened to your nose?” the little girl asked.
“I walked into the door. It really hurts.”
She walked to where Nash stood and tugged his hand. He lowered his head, and Grace kissed the tip of his nose.
“Wow, that really worked. I feel way better.”
“You need a kiss for your ouchie, Ford?”
He bent and she kissed his jaw.
“I’m wearing my new shoes.” She stuck out a toe. The shoes had little ponies all over them.
He whistled. “I sure wish they came in my size.” If Ford was talking to her, he could ignore the other adults eyeballing him and the throb of his jaw.
“You got any food in here, Ford?” The little girl was poking around.
“See that bag there?” He pointed to the white paper bag on the nightstand. “Look in there.”
“No candy before breakfast,” Piper said. “So what’s the deal? Why are you all in here talking at him, and what’s with the blood and bruising? You two been play fighting in your room?” She said the words quietly, so Grace didn’t hear. “I’m sure your mama told you not to do that.”
“How do you know we’re talking at him?” Nash asked, his words muffled behind the towel he held.
They were all speaking in soft voices so Grace didn’t hear.
“Can I try these, Ford?”
Grace had his headphones and was lying on his bed now. He went to her and put the headphones on, then started his playlist.
“That better not be rap. She has enough exposure to cursing with her uncles,” Pip said.
“Harsh but true,” Joe said.
“No, it’s not rap. It’s a gentle, soothing playlist.”
“Huh.” Luke eyed him. “I had you down for heavy metal.”
“So, back to Ford. He’s got that cornered look about him,” Pip said. “When I just saw Maggs, she was muttering something about her brothers needing to behave like men and grow up.”
