Page 64 of Bleeding Hearts

I crouch, taking her chin in my hand. “What’s wrong, sunshine?”

Her body trembles as fat tears trickle down her cheeks. “I want turkey. But Aunt Cora is too sick to make it. And Kellie said… she doesn’t know how to cook a-a-a flipping turkey. I called Daddy, b-bu-but he’s working and… won’t be home until tomorrow night because he’s working two shifts.”

She sniffles and tries to catch her breath. “And Gr-grammy left to go back to Atlanta where my… my crappy, selfish, no n-n-no good Grandpa lives, which is why she didn’t come cook like she promised.”

Lifting a hand, she wipes it across the bottom of her runny nose and cleans it off on her pants. “And Aunt Stacy is with heroth-other family because Uncle Levi is at the hospital and hers throws up when she looks or smells raw-raw turkey.” Her little foot stomps as a deep frown mars her cute little face while she continues to ramble, her words getting faster and faster. “And I want turkey, b-but no one in mystupid familywill feed me any. And it sucks, and I just wanted to ask you if you had turkey. I don’t care if I’m not supposed to ask. I’m hungry.”

Well, damn.

Because I can’t resist this little angel, I pick her up and hug her tight until she stops hiccupping. I’ve missed this. She gives the best hugs.

Placing her back down, I turn slightly. “Let me slip my shoes on, and I’ll walk you home.”

“I don’t want to go home!” Crossing her arms, she stomps her little foot once more. “I want to stay here and eat turkey food.”

“I know.” Now that I have on my crocs, I take her hand. “I’m going to walk you home and talk to Aunt Cora. If she’s okay with it, I’m okay with it. We’ll invite Kellie to dinner. I bet she’s also hungry for turkey food.”

While we walk across the street, Mollie gazes up at me with hopeful eyes. “Do you have mashed potatoes?”

“Yes, and stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green beans, homemade rolls, and pretzel salad.” Each new item I list makes her smile grow.

“And turkey!”

“Yes,” I laugh. “It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving dinner without turkey.”

The front door to her house swings open and Cora stumbles out, looking like a hot mess. “Mollie, I told you to stay in the backyard.”

Little miss spitfire grumbles. “I’m hungry. Miss Beth said I can eat with her. She has turkey food.”

With a weariness that permeates her entire being, Cora leans against the doorframe and shuts her eyes. “Your dad will skin me alive if I let you go over there.”

The closer we get, the more apparent it becomes that Cora’s in bad shape. And right before we reach the front door, she turns and runs off, rounding the corner to where the closest bathroom is. The sound of her vomiting bounces off the walls.

“She’s been doing that all day.” Mollie makes a face. “I hope it’s not contagiously. I hate throwing up.”

Me too, sunshine. “I hope it’s not contagious either.”

Once I hear the toilet flush, I walk into the short hallway and wait for the door to open. When Cora emerges, looking worse than she did mere moments ago, I know what my next action needs to be.

“You’re sick. You should be in bed. Let me take the girls back home with me.”

Cora hesitates at first, but a brief nod signals her final consent. “That would be nice. I think I have that bug going around the station.”

“It’s no big deal. We have plenty of food.” I crouch down again, grinning warmly at Mollie. “Go tell your sister. I’ll wait.”

She runs off and as soon as her feet are thumping on the stairs, Cora motions for me to follow her into the living room. “They miss you.”

“I miss them too.” As soon as the couch comes into sight, I find myself unable to look away, flooded with memories of my last visit. “I tried to tell your brother this would happen.”

She’s curled up in the oversized chair now. “Look, I don’t really know the whole story. And it’s not my business. All I know is that my brother was starting to be less of a grumpy ass when you were around. I’m sure he said or did something stupid.”

“He didn’t.” There’s no way I’m letting her fault Nolan for what I did. “We just don’t want the same thing.”

Her eyes hold a myriad of unspoken questions, ones I’m not prepared to answer. Luckily, I’m spared the task as Mollie and Kellie approach, and she turns her attention toward them instead of me.

“Don’t overstay your welcome. Come home as soon as it gets dark, or dessert is served. Whatever comes first. Listen to Miss Beth and don’t be rude. Have fun.”

After the girls give her a hug, they take off for the front door. I hear Mollie telling Kellie, “I told you it would work,” with a gesture emphasizing her sister was wrong.

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