About forty-five minutes later Jackson and I leave the bedroom with a damp and happy little girl between us, one of her hands in each of ours. She trots happily forward and we both grin down at her, I think both of us still buzzing from the happiness of bathtime.To say that Marigold was happy with
I burst out laughing and pick up a plate, my stomach rolling over with hunger as I do as my father suggests, picking out a rather indulgent breakfast.Breakfast passes quite calmly with all of us scattered around the living room eating off our knees. I mean, there are several dining rooms all over t
“Whoa,” Jesse says, starting back from the door a bit as he peers into the room. “Should I…go?”“Jesse,” Marigold whispers, peering over Jackson’s arm, her eyes locking on my cousin. Jesse beams at the little girl, I think quite pleased that she remembers his name.“Who…” Jackson says on a sigh, loo
He turns his head back to me. “They nap?”My mouth spreads into a grin. “At four? Kind of a lot.”“Oh god,” he groans, putting his head again in his hands. “I don’t – I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m trying to do it all right – I just…have no idea what’s going on…”“You sound just right for a new da
Dad starts to get up to answer the door when mom comes flying out of her room, waving a hand at dad. Cora follows soon after, pulling the door shut and nodding to Roger and Jacks to let them know that their daughters are asleep.I turn my head to stare between Roger and Jackson, a little baffled, su
“No, Ariel,” Jackson says, laughing a little and putting a hand on my knee. “What do you think in like, a larger sense. Do you…want to live here?”I sit up straight in a bit of surprise. “I…do live here,” I say quietly, not getting it. “This is my home.”“I mean permanently,” Jackson says, turning m
“This has nothing to do with whether or not we’re grateful for what Jackson did for this family and this nation,” my father says, staring at me, cold.“With all the resources this family has,” I snarl, “with everything that we have imagined for our people – vastly different futures, equality between
“Thanks!” Midnight says, quite pleased, plopping down in front of me with a glass of orange soda. Jesse lays on his side next to both of us, quite calm and casual. “Miss Ella has been very nice and gives me whatever I ask for, and also brings me stuff up too. She brings me lots of clothes.”“Mom lov