Meredith laughed. “Sorry. I did take some child psychology courses in college and considered becoming a counselor. But, really, I just want to figure out why you two are fighting so much. Why you’re so angry at each other.”
“Good luck with that. Maybe it would help if George stopped acting like a spoiled brat.”
It was time to change topics. “I’m guessing you’re a good swimmer. What other sports do you like?”
She began to rattle off a list that seemed inclusive of almost every sport. “I’m like Papa. He was athletic too.”
“That’s nice. I always enjoyed sports.”
“Really?” Kat looked dubious. “You don’t look athletic to me.”
“Looks can be deceiving.” Meredith pointed to the soccer ball floating in the center of the pool. “If you hadn’t kicked that in, I’d show off some of my moves.”
Kat’s eyes lit with a twinge of interest, but her arms were still crossed in front of her. This girl would be a hard nut to crack.
“I get the impression Mishka is not athletic,” Meredith said as they continued walking. “He may resent that you are.”
Another shrug. “That’s his problem.”
“Have you ever tried to help him? You know, coach him?”
“Look!” Her eyes flashed with anger. “Just because he’s my stupid little brother does not mean I have to show him how to do everything. Besides, he’d rather have his nose in a book. And that’s fine with me.” She turned and ran straight into the woods.
Meredith was a tiny bit concerned but reminded herself this was Kat’s holiday home. She probably knew exactly where she was going and what she was doing. And, really, Meredith shouldn’t have kept pushing on her. Good grief, she barely knew these kids. She probably just needed to give them time.
Curious as to what Mishka was up to and looking forward to a child who wouldn’t treat her like a pariah, she headed back inside to find him sitting in a leather armchair in the library, peacefully reading a book with a pair of elephants on the cover.
“Want any company?” she asked from the doorway.
His face brightened into a big grin. “Yes, please.”
She took the chair opposite him and sat with a sigh. “Elephants?”
“Pachyderms.”
“Oh, yes. Of course.” She nodded. “Another name for elephants.”
“Not just elephants. A pachyderm can also be a rhinoceros or hippopotamus. It’s a large mammal with thick skin.”
“Impressive. You’re quite the expert.”
“I like to read about animals.”
“Tell me something else.” She pointed at the book. “About elephants. Something unusual that I may not already know.” She grinned. “Not that I’m an expert. Not like you anyway.”
He began to recite facts about how much they could eat, how long they lived, how far they could travel in a day…and more. “And they have eyelashes.”
“You really are an expert.”
“I have a good memory.” Probably realizing he had a captive audience, he began to tell her about other pachyderms. She tried to appear interested as she listened, but she was actually having a hard time keeping her eyes open.
“You know that it would be about five o’clock in the morning for me in the place I was living just a couple of days ago? I’d be getting ready to get up in a couple of hours, but I still haven’t even gone to bed yet.”
“Really?” He closed the book.
“Yep.”
He looked puzzled. “I thought you lived in America. And our time here is sooner, like it is for England, where our other grandparents live.”
