The Winner's Game(31)
“No,” Dell whispers, “you shouldn’t have.” He isn’t crying, but in his own way, he looks broken too.
Ann graciously steps forward and puts her arms around me. “It’s OK, Mom. It’s OK.”
“Nothing about this is OK, sweetie.”
“I’m sorry for our fighting. We’ll try harder.”
“Thanks. But I see your point too. I know you’ve been cooped up, and I know that’s hard. Maybe that’s why I’m so frustrated, because I wanted you to have this idyllic summer, and it’s turning out to be anything but.”
A few seconds pass, then Bree asks, “Does this mean we’re not in trouble?”
“Nice try,” Dell replies. “There will still be consequences if you guys don’t shape up. But Mom’s right, it would help if you weren’t stuck inside all day getting in each other’s way.” He pauses. “Tomorrow is a new day, and I hear the weather is going to improve. We’ve got all weekend to be together as a family, so can we all agree to get along?” He pauses. “This is the only family we’ve got. If we can’t get along with each other, who can we get along with?”
My arms are still wrapped firmly around Ann, not wanting to ever let her go. “I ask myself that same question every day,” I whisper.
Chapter 12
Dell
WELL, THAT WASN’T exactly the reception I was hoping for after being away from you all week,” I say, trying to lighten the mood as I peel off my shoes and set them next to the door.
“It was only three days, Dell,” replies Emily instantly.
Why does she have to correct me like that?
“Right. Well, now that hopefully we’ve got all of the fights settled, who’s hungry? That pizza buffet place up the road didn’t look too crowded when I drove past.”
“Sweet,” remarks Cade. “I’m starving.”
“Me too,” says Bree.
Emily, however, is frowning. “Do none of you smell dinner cooking? I’ve been slaving away all afternoon to prepare a nice meal.”
“Oh, whoops. Sorry, kids. Looks like Mom already has plans. We’ll have to eat here tonight so it doesn’t go to waste.”
Her face turns a little pink, but she doesn’t say anything else. She just turns to go finish her preparations.
The conversation over dinner centers mostly on bringing me up to speed on how boring everything was while I was back home in Portland. Everybody except Emily has examples of how awful it was. I also grill Ann on how she is feeling, going down my usual checklist of worries. Are you getting enough rest? Do you feel tired? Any pains in your chest?
As always, she says she’s fine. I hope that’s the truth.
When the conversation wanes, I remember something I left in the car. “Who wants to play a game tonight?” I ask. On Monday, when we first arrived, I noticed that there weren’t many board games in the house. When the kids were younger, whenever we went to the beach, we would play lots of games, especially when it rained, so after work today I went back to the house and picked up a few of the family favorites. Immediately after dinner I grab them from the car and ask Cade which one he’d like to play.
“The Game of Life,” he replies instantly. “I rock at it.”
“Emily,” I call from the living room, “the kids and I are going to play Life. You want to join?”
“I’d like to,” comes her response, “but I’ve got to clean up from dinner.”
“OK. We’ll just wait until you’re ready.”
It takes her another fifteen minutes before she finally leaves the kitchen, wearing the crab apron and a matching scowl.
“About time,” I mumble.
Emily turns pink again. “You know what? I think I’m just going to go read. You guys go ahead and play without me.”
“We’ve been waiting here, just for you, and now you’re not even going to play? That’s perfect.”
“I’m sorry, Dell. But I’m not in the mood to play anymore. You go ahead and enjoy Life without me.” Her pink is turning red, more like the lobster. She leaves without saying another word.
“Ah crap,” I mutter, “it’s going to be another one of those nights.”
“Can we just play?” asks Bree.
I let out a long breath. “Yes, Breezy, you go first.”
The game goes along fine for the first little while. But as it progresses, Ann starts looking more and more uncomfortable each time she spins the dial to learn her new fate in the game. We’re maybe halfway around the game board—and she’s in the lead—when she stands up and announces that she is quitting.