May snaps at me, “You have floral tape in your hair.”
Thomas finally spills the beans. “Okay. Don’t be mad. But we had a meeting with Keith Johnson, and he’s definitely interested.”
Dad steps forward. “Interested in what?”
I am livid at my siblings, even though I promised Grak I would try to do better. I can put two and two together. “Dad, they are trying to sell the farm out from under us.”
“Excuse me?” Dad says.
“Not out from under you!” May exclaims.
Everything devolves into round after round of shouts and accusations.
“Mommy, you can’t sell the farm!”
“How dare you turn my children against me!”
“Oh, that’s rich!”
“How dare you take advantage of my sister! She’s fragile and isolated out here.”
“Thomas, you don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“This is the only way to get you to move on with your life! And Dad, you have to see reason. You can’t keep this up.”
“Grak is here now, and he’s helping! You’ll see!”
The only person not shouting now is Grak.
“Come on, Ginger,” he says, scooping me up in his arms.
“Where are you taking me?” I cry.
“We’re going inside to cool off.”
“I don’t need to cool off. It’s freezing out here.”
“Then you need to warm up.”
Chapter Sixteen
Grak
Everything is so small in this kitchen.
But at least everyone is around the table.
No one is talking, but they are all here.
Ginger’s mom watches me carefully, not taking her eyes off me as she questions her husband.
“Ron. When you said you met Ginger’s special friend, you didn’t mention he was…he was…”
I set down the pot of stew, the one human recipe I know how to do, oddly enough, based on something I learned in the video game.
Ginger leans forward and eyes the sausage in the broth, along with cabbage and onions. She gives me an approving nod, and I smile.
I look back at Ginger’s mother. “An orc. I’m an orc. Ma’am. My name is Grak.”
