Page 13 of Holding You
He erupts into laughter.
“That’s unlikely.”
I open my mouth to say more, but Max beats me to it.
“Mom, can we play a game after we get done eating?”
“Oh, maybe another night.”
“So they can come have dinner with us again?”
“One game tonight is fine.”
“Yes!” Both kids shovel the rest of their food into their mouths and then grab the simplest game in the game cabinet in the living room.
Guess Who.
The kids play a couple of warm-up rounds, as they call it, while Declan and I finish eating.
“Do you want help with the dishes?” Declan asks. I shake my head.
“I’ll do them after you leave.”
“Don’t be silly. I’ll help.”
“No, thanks.”
“Do we have to keep score?” Susie shouts from the living room.
“Nope. There is only first and second place on this one. It should be easy to track,” Declan answers her as he makes his way to the coffee table. He and Susie sit on one side of the couch, while Max and I sit on the floor.
First and second place. I can tell you this, in my house, I better be the one coming in the first-place spot.
“Rock, paper, scissors to see who goes first,” Max says.
I settle in, waiting for him and Susie to battle, but neither moves.
“Dad, that’s you and Ruby.”
“Oh, we have to do it?” he asks, clearly on the same thought train as me.
“Yes.” Susie glances between us.
Declan scoots to the edge of the couch, flips his hat backward, and then rests his forearms on his thighs.
Palms flat, fists closed, Declan and I chant, “Rock, paper, scissors … shoot.”
Both rocks.
“Rock, paper, scissors … shoot.”
Both papers.
The kids laugh.
“Rock, paper, scissors … shoot.”
“Yes!” I squeal. My rock covers his scissors.
