Page 3 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“Yeah,” I exhale a long breath. “We’re lucky.”

Dad lifts his chin toward the woods. “I hear wild things heading this way.”

It takes a few seconds before I catch the sound of them hooting and howling in the distance. “How did you hear that?”

His smile broadens. “It’s a superpower you gain when becoming a parent.”

“I’d rather be able to fly.” I stand, meet Mom on the porch, and hold my hands out to take the basket. “I’ll set the table.”

“You should sit down and relax, raise that leg up and⁠—”

“It’s a scrape.” I laugh.

She sighs when she catches herself getting a bit too worked up and smiles, “Thank you, Jade.”

Setting the table, I’m happy to see that there are six place settings, which means Ry is staying, and when I’m finished, I turn to see my brothers covered in mud and Ryan looking like he did before we all headed to the woods.

His eyes move from mine to my leg and widen before jumping back to meet mine. I answer his concern with a roll of my eyes and a nod toward Mom, who’s carrying out two large bowls, one of mac salad and another of potatoes, my favorite.

He blinks and lifts his chin slightly, then turns and heads to Mom to offer help as he always does.

“Thank you, Ryan.” She smiles.

“Groton’s our first game,” Jason says after washing down a mouthful of steak with the sun tea Mom had poured him.

“We’re going to crush them,” Jasper says excitedly. “Ry is killing it as quarterback; all those years of chopping wood. Alex is like the Swiss Army Knife of the team. He’s starting at tight end. We’re going to be unstoppable.

“They moved you to QB?” Dad smiles big at Ryan, who looks down after giving one nod.

The three of them look at each other, and then Jasper chuckles. “Yeah, Dad, where have you been?”

“Your father's been working his tail off on that new retirement community going up in Cayuga Heights.” Mom smiles at him. “Best roofer in Central New York.”

“We’re gonna be just as good one day,” Jason states.

“Even with football, we can still work for you on weekends and⁠—”

Dad interrupts Jasper. “You’ll be busy with football, then basketball, and then baseball. You won’t have much time to help out. I’ll make sure to line up some summer work so you two can start saving for a car.” He looks at Ryan. “You going to play all three too?”

He clears his throat. “Football’s it.”

“He wants a truck the minute he turns sixteen,” Jason explains.

“Surprised you two don’t want the same,” I state flatly, still a little annoyed with them.

“Ry turns sixteen before us; he’ll have a truck, and wherever he goes, we’ll be with him.” Jasper taps his knee to mine under the picnic table.

“We’ll have gas money,” Jason adds quickly.

“How are the four musketeers going to all fit in a truck?” Dad chuckles. The four musketeers he’s referring to are Jason, Jasper, Ryan, and our cousin Alex, not me.

“We’ll make it work,” Ryan says, looking down.

“You won’t have to. Alex will have one of the farm trucks, and he wouldn’t leave his sister behind.” I narrow my eyes at my brothers. “And where Tessa goes, I go, and Tessa already said they’ll pick me up for school every day.”

“Until I get a car, then you’ll ride with me,” Jasper says quietly.

I say nothing because I’m still mad at them… I think.