Page 118 of Five Brothers

“Go,” I tell him, walking into the house. “It’s not your fault, either.”

It’s Thanksgiving tomorrow. I get it. He’s got things to do.

Nor should he work for free.

He grabs his bag, walking out the door. “They’ve had dinner. No homework over break.”

I nod. “Happy Thanksgiving.” And I help him close the door.

He’s gone, and I pause. That might be the last time the kids ever see him.

Did he say goodbye?

Knowing him, probably not. He assumes he’ll be back once she straightens her shit out. He’s been with Paisleigh since she was two.

“Krisjen!” Paisleigh exclaims, and I turn to see my sister dragging a plastic dinosaur on a leash. “Can we watch a movie?”

Mars is behind her, strolling from the kitchen to the stairs.

“Pack an overnight bag,” I call out, loud enough for them both to hear.

Mars pulls off his headphones. “Huh?”

I take Paisleigh’s hand. “Pack a bag.”

“Why?”

“We’re going for a sleepover with the Jaegers,” I sing, looking down at my sister.

She gasps, beaming.

My brother twists up his lips, because he wants to go, but he persists in acting like everything about me is annoying.

“Let’s go!” I start running up the stairs with the kids. “Leaving in ten minutes!”

They start tossing everything they could possibly ever need into a bag as I dial Army.

He answers on the first ring. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Can you come and get me?”

He pauses only a moment. “Where are you?”

“I’m home. I’ll explain later.”

“Are you okay?”

“No, I’m waiting,” I retort. “Hurry.”

I hang up, grab a few things myself, and hear a honk outside inless than ten minutes. They must’ve been working this side of the tracks.

“Let’s go!” I yell to the kids.

Mars and Paisleigh spill down the stairs with their gear, and I swing a duffel over my shoulder and pull out a baseball bat from the foyer closet as they pile outside.

I throw my bag and theirs into the back of the truck and open the back door, pushing them in next to Trace.

“What’s the bat for?” Army looks over the front seat to me.