“Making up is always the best part of fighting, isn’t it?” she asked him.
“Let’s stick with the making up part, okay?” he puffed the cigarette and handed it to her, “and dressing up a little for me now and then can’t hurt either.”
“Okay,” she giggled and laid her head on his chest.
********************************
“Well,” Mom said as Grace slipped into the seat across from Bobby and John at the dinner table, “look who’s decided to join us for dinner for once!”
Grace shot her a smart-ass smile then looked adoringly at John.
“I wanted to see John before he leaves me again,” she replied.
“I see,” Mom said quietly before distractedly turning her attention back to the over-boiling pot of corn on the cob on the woodstove behind her.
Bobby and Jenna giggled and elbowed each other as if they were sharing a private joke at Grace’s expense. Amazingly, she ignored them and sipped her water, steadily holding John’s gaze the way she had in his room the other morning.
Dad looked at her quizzically then looked quickly over at John as if a thought had struck him.
John could almost feel the walls closing in on him; a symptom of a severe bout of sudden paranoia he hoped was only from the weed he’d just smoked.
Dad cleared his throat and stood up abruptly. John felt his heart leap in his chest; his mother spun and nearly dropped the platter of steaming corn in her surprise.
Grace put her head in her hand and rested her elbow on the table, smiling at him adoringly.
“John,” he said evenly, “what are the odds you could take Grace with you when you go back to Chicago?”
“Wha … what?” he stammered, breaking his sister’s hold on him to look over at his father.
Dad looked over at Mom who stood next to him with an expression of surprise and consternation written all over her face.
“Why not?” he asked his wife, “She hasn’t been this outgoing since he left …” he waved his arm in John’s direction, “She’s better around him – anyone can see that … maybe there’s a chance that getting away from the farm for a few months will bring her ’round?”
“We can’t afford a place for her to stay in Chicago …” she started to protest.
“No need,” Grace interrupted rather rudely, “I can stay with John!”
John looked at his parents then back at his little sister then back at his parents again. The thoughts that went through his mind jumbled and he didn’t know what to say or do.
“How’s that gonna work …?” Mom started to protest but John came to the sudden realization that he wanted his sister with him, that her being with him was probably best for everyone – mainly himself.
“Alright!” John announced loudly.
Everyone turned and looked at him. He had their attention whether he wanted it or not.
“I can get a grant or something … I can work part time somewhere … maybe Grace could even get a job somewhere too – when she gets better.”
Mom looked at her son with a pleading look that transformed suddenly into a big fake smile when her husband turned to her again.
“You see?” he asked her. “He’s alright with it and Lord knows we could use a break!”