Page 55 of Lucky Penny
Jesse leans forward on his elbows, brows pulled down, and turns to me. “What game?” His tone is serious.
“Let’s see what there is.” I hop off the sofa and wander to the pine wardrobe in the dining room, throwing it open only to see that nothing has moved. It’s like a time capsule of my childhood. The day I perused this house—I didn’t get far. I certainly didn’t open this wardrobe that appears like it would lead to a magical land, because I was certain things would fall out. I wasn’t wrong.
“Holy shit, did Nan seriously not get rid ofanythingin here?” I swipe a finger across a dirty board game as stacks of cards fall onto my slippered feet.
Fia slowly gets off the sofa and comes to stand next to me, hands on her hips. “Nope.” She shakes her head absentmindedly. “She was so sentimental about ourchildhood stuff.”
That’s an understatement.
I also don’t see how this doesn’t bother Fia. Her baby couldopen this and an avalanche of board games would come down.When do infants even start crawling?
“No way! She kept my special edition Monopoly!” Fia squeals, reaching for the box. She precariously pulls it out. The game hasn’t been played since we all lived under this roof together, I’m sure of it.
“This was your and Danny’s favorite game. Do you remember how you two never let me play with you? It wasfor adults only,” Fia teases, but I look away.
“Yep. I remember.”
“I was thinking…” Fia twirls her hair, the board game tucked under one arm. “Maybe we can call him on Christmas, since we’re all here. I know it would make him so happy.” She smiles, and my stomach drops.
“Please…let’s not go there right now.” I offer a tiny smile.
Her face falls, and now I feel like a bitch.
Fia’s always respected my distance with Danny; she never pushed it. I know I have to face our brother, sooner than later. But I need to figure that out on my terms, not with her.
Especially when I’m going there to convince him to sell this house.
“That’s like a four hour game, are you sure you really want to play it right now?” I change the subject, trying to lighten the mood that I just ruined.
“Yes. I do.”
“Fine,” I resign.
Jesse’s already clearing the coffee table, and Fia’s kneeling to set up the old board game. I hope I don’t regret this, but then again, everyone’s in a good mood. Maybe I can finally get Fia to talk about the house.
“Who wants hot chocolate?” I ask, remembering that I brought a hot chocolate kit with me from my house. God only knows why I even had one to begin with, but Fia and Jesse both smile like little kids.
Tank follows me to the kitchen while I heat up the milk and fill the space with the scent of sugary marshmallow and chocolate. Sifting through the cabinet, I find three Christmas mugs. Nan was a mug collector. There must be fifty in here. It would be insane for two people to live here with fifty mugs.
I even fill a plate with Christmas Oreos, using a fancy tray, and walk to the living room. Jesse jumps up from the floor to help me.
“I got it, thanks,” I say and set it down. I offer him the reindeer mug with a small smile.
I sit next to him but slyly call Tank over to sit between us on the floor. A buffer, if you will.
Fia’s about done setting up the game, a chocolate cookie in her hand and a smile on her face, and I decide this is the best time.
Because I have to try.
“You know, we could do a big estate sale after the holidays with all this stuff. Did you know Nan has like fifty mugs, and that’sjustwhat’s in the cabinet. If you sold even half the stuff, you’d have money for the baby. You could probably furnish a whole nursery.” I smile, but Fia shrugs, like I suggested that she pick a different game piece or something trivial. Not like the well-being of her unborn child. “If you sold all the stuff in the attic, all those antiques, that might even be enough for a down payment on a car.”
Jesse casts his face down but glances over at me, giving me a knowing look.
I know what he’s thinking. He thinks I’m pushing my luck. But when the baby comes, and I’m back to a busy work schedule, it will be ten times harder to get anything done.
Somethinghasto give.
Fia takes a sip of hot chocolate. “Wow, is there peppermint in here? This is so good.”
