Page 31 of Sing Me Home
When Griffin started to protest, Anna talked over him. “If we make an exception for you, we have to make one for everybody.”
“Agreed,” Christy said.
Griffin’s face twisted up in frustration but then he straightened it out. “Okay. Fine. Maggie and I are out,” he said like it was some kind of punishment to the rest of us.
“Your loss,” Bowen muttered. “Gives the rest of us a better shot.”
Maggie huffed. “Speak for yourself,” she said to Griff. “I’m winning that money. Sorry, babe.”
Everyone laughed but Griffin. And Bowen who just scowled.
“All right.” Holden took over again. “We settled?” His eyes scanned the group and no one else protested. “Chris, take it away.”
My petite, pixie-like aunt sprang forward, holding a deck of cards. “I’m only explaining this once, so listen up.” She waved the stack. “There are two of every card. For example, there are two king of clubs, two red hearts, two jack of diamonds. You’ll draw one and whoever draws the match? That’s your partner. Easy peasy. Everyone understand?” We answered that we did. “There are no trades, no refunds, and no complaining. You get who you get and you don’t throw a fit. And don’t think we won’t know. Tally is writing it all down.” Mom shook her phone in the air for everyone to see. Christy drew a line in the dirt with the toe of her shoe. “Single file, right here.”
“Can’t tell she used to be a teacher or anything.” Holden laughed.
Aunt Christy was now the athletic director for Seddledowne High and had been as long as I’d known her. She knew how to handle a crowd.
Cash slipped behind me in line and whispered in my ear. “We’re gonna be partners.”
I snorted. “How could you possibly know that?” I leaned sideways to peer back at him. “Did you stack the deck?”
“Nope.” He grinned. “I just know.”
“Mhmm. Well.” I stepped forward as the line moved. “You probably don’t want to stand right behind me then. You heard the woman. The deck was shuffled.”
“Nah.” He heaved a happy sigh. “I’m good right here.”
“I’m going to be rich!” Jane shrieked. “I got Blue!” Half my cousins groaned.Igroaned. Blue was a retired NFL quarterback who could crush us all, and he had, many times.
“Sorry, baby.” He kissed a dejected Anna and then walked over to Jane, high-fiving her. “Nice.”
“Hate to break it to you, Janer-Brainer,” Blaze yelled from the end of the line. “Him being your partner doesn’t automatically make you fast. He can only go as fast as you go.”
Jane’s face fell. “Oh. You’re right.”
“No worries,” Blue said. “We’ll work on your speed.AndI give one heck of a piggyback ride.” That did it. Jane’s jubilee was restored.
I watched as partners found each other. Maddie and Holden. Silas and his youngest, Sophie. Gramps and Belle. James and my dad.
Cash and I let out anoofat the same time.
“That’s going to be a tough pair for us to beat,” he said, like our partnership was a done deal.
James had won state in cross country in high school, and my dad had the longest legs of anyone here, and he loved to run.
Aunt Lemon stepped out of my way. “Queen of diamonds?” she called, looking around for her partner.
Griffin held his card up. “That’s me,” he said with a frustrated sigh. Which had nothing to do with Aunt Lemon. The woman was super fit. But, like the good son that he was, he gave her a congratulatory hug.
Maggie stood off to the side, flicking her card against her thigh, nervously watching the line move.
It was my turn. Christy held the cards in a fan. I took the third card from the right and moved out of Cash’s way. Then, I watched as he closed his eyes, his fingers hovering as if some otherworldly power would guide him. He pulled the last card on the left side.
Once that was done, I walked a few feet away and peeked at mine. Ace of spades.
“What’d ya get?” Cash breathed in my ear.
