Page 12 of Falling for Grace

“Shall we just do this as a test round?” Sue suggests, placing her chosen three down. “As I’m not really sure what I’m doing either, loves.”

“Okay, as I’m the most beautiful I’ll go first,” Danny announces, laying down a four then picking up a card from the deck. “You always need to have three in your hand, until this pile goes.” He taps the small pile of cards in the middle.

“Oh God, another rule,” Ted says, laughing. “No wonder Sue gets confused.”

Sue throws a beer cap at him, which he catches this time.

I lay down a five and pick up a card, followed by Ted, who puts down a seven.

We all look to Sue, who lays down a three.

“Are you sure you want to play that, Mum?” Brandon asks.

“Yes, I know what I’m doing.” She picks up a card from the deck and adds it to her pile, moving one of the cards into an order that only she knows.

Danny picks up the cards from the centre.

All of them.

“You can’t beat a seven for real?” I laugh.

“Oh fuck off,” he says, shuffling the cards in his hands.

“Do you remember the time Brandon chipped his tooth on the curb,” Sue suddenly says out of nowhere, just as I take a sip of wine. I lurch forward, putting my hand over my mouth to stop the alcohol from exploding out along with my laugh.

“Oh my Lord.” Brandon groans. “Where did that come from?” He looks at his mother as Ted discards.

“I hardly get to see you and when I see you here with Danny and Grace things just pop into my head.”

“You know he was looking in my living room window at the time,” I say, a grin tugging at my lips. “He was on his roller-blades. He was so busy staring, he was completely oblivious that the bike in front of him had stopped and he smashed into the back tires on his roller blades and head-butted the floor.”

“Have you seen yourself play Just Dance, of course he was staring. Little arms and legs flailing around.” Danny tips his head back and laughs.

“I’m glad you all find it so funny—that hurt. I couldn’t have cold things for about six months without getting a shooting pain in my brain.”

We all just laugh harder.

“What about when Danny pissed himself the first time he was drunk,” Brandon says.

“Don’t forget the crying out for Mummy,” I add.

Danny glances between me and Brandon. “That story comes out every time you two get together.” He rolls his eyes.

“You shouldn’t do that.” I nudge his arm. “Your face could get stuck that way, and you won’t be able to see.”

“Hardy-har. There are so many stories, yet you two are fixated on the first time I got drunk.” He leans forward and flicks my nose.

“That’s because it’s hilarious, little brother.” Brandon throws his card down on the table. “Why do you look so confused?” he asks, peering over Sue’s hand.

“Don’t cheat, Mister.” She pushes his head away with one hand and pulls the cards close to her chest. “What happens now that you took the last card from the middle?”

“Once you play all the cards in your hand, you move onto the three that are face up,” I explain.

“But you can all see them,” Ted says.

“That’s the point of the game. People can see your cards, so they can intentionally mess you up. Which is why I am not sitting next to Gracie,” Brandon says. “She may look all cute and innocent, but she will break your heart.”

Ouch.

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