“I thought it was better staying there than drinking and driving.”
“You’ve got to be kidding!”
“Just a couple of beers.”
“You’re sixteen!”
“You know I drink. And smoke—”
Meg let out a shriek and Sarah quickly turned around and came right back down, entering the living room in time to hear Meg say, “I expect more from you, JJ. A lot more, considering the fact that you are almost seventeen.”
JJ rolled his eyes. “You’re losing it for no good reason—”
“No good reason? Maybe you weren’t aware that I just lost my mom, and your dad, and I really don’t need you, Jack Jr., being a smart-ass when my life has fallen apart.”
“Well, my life isn’t any better, Mom. It was my dad who died, and I can’t get that picture of Dad lying there on that metal tray or bed or whatever it was, with just half a face—”
“Jack Thomas Roberts!”
“So yeah, I had a couple of beers last night and then made out with Heather and decided to camp out with her because when I’m with her I feel good. Sorry you didn’t get my text. Sorry you don’t like me drinking. Sorry I’m not the perfect, stand-up son you wanted, but this is me, Mom. This is who I am.”
JJ stalked out of the living room, passing Sarah in the doorway, to tear up the stairs three at a time.
Sarah heard his bedroom door slam shut and turned to look at Meg, who was standing, shell-shocked, in the middle of the living room.
Sarah didn’t know what to do, or say. “Teenagers are fun, huh?”
Meg’s eyes shimmered with tears. Shaking her head, she exhaled slowly and then tried to speak but couldn’t.
“Meg, he’s a great kid. He loves you so much—”
“Sure has a funny way of showing it.”
“It’s only been two days since Jack died. He’s reeling.”
Meg swiped at the tears, drying them before they could fall. “We’re all reeling.”
“Exactly. So don’t take it personally. He probably doesn’t even know what he’s saying.”
“Great.”
“Where are the girls?”
“Upstairs watching a movie in Tessa’s room.”
“Has everyone had lunch?”
Meg nodded. “That’s how I found out JJ wasn’t here. Sent Gabi in to wake him up for lunch.”
“But he’s back now, and safe, and you deserve some time to yourself.”
“Ha!” Meg’s voice quavered.
“You won’t get much time once Jack’s parents arrive tomorrow. Why don’t you go lie down for a while . . . or take a bath. I’ll manage the kids.”
“I was going to boil some eggs. The girls want to decorate them later.”
“You go upstairs. I’ve got the eggs covered.”
* * *
Three hours later, Sarah and the girls covered the farm table in the kitchen with a layer of newspapers and then Tessa measured out the vinegar and water for the dye while Gabi showed Ella how to organize the plastic cups and tablets of dye. “Orange goes with orange,” Gabi said. “Blue with blue. And green with green. See?”
Ella wrinkled her nose. “But that pill doesn’t look green.”
“They have to dissolve, and it’s not a pill. It’s a tablet.”
“A tablet,” Ella repeated.
“Yes.”
Ella frowned. “What is a tablet?”
Gabi shrugged. “It’s like a pill.”
Ella said nothing, even more confused than before, and Sarah reached over to hug her. Welcome to the world, she thought.
The two dozen eggs were drying in the open cardboard cartons and Sarah was at the sink, rinsing out the extra glasses they’d used for some of the dye, when her phone rang.
She quickly wiped her hands and reached for her phone in the back pocket of her jeans. Boone. Which meant Brennan had landed.
“I’ve got him,” Boone said when she answered.
“Wonderful. Now I can relax.”
“Now you can relax,” he agreed. “How is Ella?”
“Good. She just finished dyeing two dozen eggs with her cousins. Ella made one for all of us.”
“What did she put on mine?”
“‘I heart Daddy.’” Sarah crossed the kitchen, glanced into the family room to make sure the kids were doing all right. The three girls were crowded onto the couch watching the Disney Channel. “So what are you doing now?”
“Driving home.”
Sarah pulled out one of the stools at the island and sat down. “Can’t believe that Friday is opening day and I’m missing it. Against the Yankees no less!”
“Wish you could be there.”