Page 5 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“That song is so crude.” I huff as I jot it down.

“Bet it’ll be on the charts longer than any of your picks.” He ribs me.

“It’s not a competition,” I call to his back.

“Everything is a competition.” He retorts with a chuckle.

“Your new song is lame.” Jasper chuckles as he passes by me and messes up my hair.

“It’s deep.” I defend.

He walks over, and Mom hands him a large glass of lemonade.

“Thanks, Mom.” He pops a kiss on her cheek, and after draining the glass, he looks back at me. “Put Ry down for Fallen Angel.”

I hold up the pad, showing him, “Already did. He just likes loud music. His song sucks too.”

“Jade.” Mom gasps.

“Sorry,” I mumble.

She arches a perfectly plucked brow at me and looks to my brother. “How much wood did you all get cut today?”

Jason re-enters, barefoot, and answers for him, “We’re good for the winter.”

“Ryan?” Mom asks.

His face tenses, but his features quickly soften as he looks to Mom. “As Danny says, he’s working through some things.”

“I wish they’d just leave that young man alone.” She shakes her head.

Dad, my brothers, Ryan, and his foster dad, Danny, cut wood together to heat their home and ours through the winter. Danny also sells firewood as one of the many small businesses he owns.

“We all do, but they’re his birth parents.” Jason pours another glass of lemonade.

“They were vessels that brought him into the world. They stopped being parents to him when he went into foster care. The Brooks have adopted him. They’ve lost their rights.”

“You’d fight for us.” Jason takes the glass Jasper just poured and rolls his eyes but isn’t bothered by it at all.

“If I ever harmed a single hair on any of your heads, I’d be the first to admit I didn’t deserve to be your mother.” Mom states matter-of-factly.

“You’d never hurt our kids,” Dad says as he enters the house.

“It’s a hypothetical.” Mom sighs with a slight roll of her eyes.

He walks over and pulls her into his arms. She tries to squirm away. “Jack, I am a sweaty mess.”

“You’re never a mess,” he says right before planting a kiss on her lips.

Together, Jason, Jasper, and I let out a collective groan. We’re used to their nonstop show of affection. It’s what makes our family different from most.

“Dad, I need your song.”

“Rag Doll.” He winks at Mom, then looks back at us. “Get changed, Uncle John, Maggie, and the kids are heading up to the pond. Josie and Troy are meeting us up there.”

After turning off the paved road and onto the dirt one, with deep ruts from wagons and tractors that lead all the way down to the pond, Jasper and Jason flank my sides as we stand in the back of the truck.

Jason smiles, “You said you’d choose flight as your superpower. Lift your arms up, fly, Jade.”