Page 45 of Make or Break

“I got him,” she said in a lower voice.

“Do you have any bags you want me to grab?” I asked.

Brandy turned around holding a lanky, dead-to-the-world little boy. “Thanks. Marjorie’s overnight bag is in the passenger seat.”

I stepped forward, but Tundra stopped me. “I’ll get it. You grab a throw for Matty and check the pantry for some soup. Keep an eye on Marjorie.”

I grinned at Marjorie who stood staring up at us. “Want to lead the way?”

She ducked her head.

I held out my hand. She grabbed my pinkie and we went to the living room. I stopped in the middle of the room and crouched before her. “I’m Mickayla. Where does your grandma keep blankets?”

She pointed at an ottoman.

I pulled at the lid and saw a stack of throws. I grabbed a Jaguars throw and laid it out on the couch.

“Do you want to help me find the soup?”

After a short stare down, she bit her finger.

I smiled. “It’s okay. You get comfy.”

Marjorie did not make herself comfy. Instead, she watched me with rapt attention - or perhaps she was spacing out because she wasn’t feeling well either. Hard for me to tell after having just met her.

A door sat close to the fancy stove. I pulled it open expecting a regular pantry. Since nothing about this house was standard issue, I was only mildly surprised to find shelving on the other side of the door for spices and other small items. The pantry itself was a walk-in space that would give my walk-in closet a run for its money.

“I love this place,” I whispered to myself.

Rows and rows of boxed goods, from granola bars to rice mixes sat on the left side of the pantry. I didn’t see any boxed dry soup among the assortment. A variety of canned foods were on the shelves to my right. It took a moment, but I grabbed two cans of chicken noodle soup, snagged a box of granola bars, and a box of saltines before I shut the pantry door.

Marjorie had wandered into the kitchen to keep an eye on me.

“This place is awesome, Miss Marjorie.”

She ducked her head again, but I saw traces of a smile before she did.

I heard footfalls on the stairs, then Tundra and Brandy entered the kitchen.

Tundra introduced me to his sister.

She put her hands in front of her chest in prayer position and bowed her head. “I’d shake your hand, but—”

“I get it. Why isn’t your Mom here?” I asked.

Brandy’s brows popped up. “She’s retired and had two cruises booked on the same ship. The second one is a repositioning cruise, and she’ll be back in two weeks.”

I gave a single nod. “That’s cool for her. I found some soup, crackers, and in case he isn’t up for that, some granola bars.”

A gleam hit her eye. “Thank you.”

“Dee,” Tundra said.

The warning tone made me look at him.

Brandy shifted her focus to Tundra. “What? I’m thrilled you found someone else so quick.”

“Don’t, Dee.”