Oak
As Grace and I finally emerge from our room to join the others for dinner Connor comes running from around the corner and barrels into me. I make the effort to look as if his impact has caused me to falter as I stumble a few steps back.
Broadly, he smiles up at me. “Did you hear the news?”
“What’s that, champ?”
His eyes jump over to his sister with glee before rushing to her side. Her arms instantly open and he tucks himself in her side. She ruffles his hair and he feigns a face of annoyance.
“Grace has custody of me,” he says so proudly. The love this boy has for his sister is god damn touching.
“Temporary custody,” she corrects him but his response is a roll of his eyes.
“Either way,” he says smiling, “I’m really proud of her.”
Grace’s eyes glisten like diamonds under brilliant lights. She pulls her brother in a little closer, hugging him a little harder.
“I don’t have tissues,” he mumbles against her.
She rolls her eyes but as she does a tear manages to escape. I collect the tear with my thumb before it has the chance to fall down her face. She mouths,thank you, before ruffling herbrother’s hair again. This time he doesn’t even bother to feign annoyance.
“Alright champ, go wash your hands before dinner, okay?”
“Okay,” he agrees easily and goes behind the bar to wash his hands.
At the table everyone is here, including my sister Nora and Daniella.
Catching my eyes she breaks away from Dani. Taking Grace’s hand in mine we meet Nora halfway. Grace lets go of my hand to envelope Nora in a warm embrace. And it warms my heart to see Nora so receptive of her touch.
“Do you think I could talk to my brother for a moment?” I hear Nora ask of Grace.
Grace nods her head. “Of course. Promise to give him back?” She teases with a cheeky smile.
Nora laughs softly, glancing between the two of us with mirth in her eyes. “I don’t think I’ll be able to keep him away for too long.”
“I’ll see you in a few,” I say to Grace. Taking her hand I pull her towards me. Leaning down and with her reaching up on the tips of her toes I press a kiss to her lips that promises so much more.
She leaves me then with a dazed expression and I watch after her in a trance.
“You don’t know how happy it makes me to see you in love, Ethan,” Nora tells me warmly.
My eyes finally let go of Grace as I give my attention to Nora. “She’s my world, Nor.”
“You deserve to be happy.”
“So do you.”
Her lips twitch, a touch of distance and longing in her eyes. As if true happiness is just right out of her grasp. “I’ll get there, I promise.”
It’s a conversation we will have at another time. She’s already come so far and I don’t want to push her harder than necessary. Ever since coming here she’s made such tremendous progress.
I raise a brow at her. “How are you doing? Really?”
“I’m doing. . .okay.” She shifts uneasily on her feet. “It’s always rough around this time of year, but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“But you know that you can,” I tell her. “You can talk to me, Nor. Always.”
She nods her head, her glasses moving slightly down the bridge of her nose. “I know and I love you for it, but I wanted to talk about you.”
