Page 90 of Sing For Me

“We were going to play Risk,” Silas says, sounding almost shy. “You want to play?”

“Do you have Star Wars Risk?”

“You like Star Wars?” Presley asks, surprised.

“I love Star Wars. I’m actually a giant nerd about Sci-Fi stuff. Will teases me all the time.”

“I don’t think we have that one here,” Silas says, standing. “But I’m pretty sure we have the Game of Thrones version if you like that.”

I stand as well, grabbing my half empty cup of coffee. “Sounds even better.”

* * *

We endup turning our game of Risk into a tournament, which means there’s pretty much always a game going, different players subbing in and out. The Ransomes, I discover, are competitive. The trash talk that comes out of their mouths would make a pro athlete blush.

Risk isn’t the only game they play over the next few days. The den in the lodge is filled with board games—Monopoly, Clue, and Trivial Pursuit all make appearances. Some of the older kids start a game of Settlers of Catan that goes on for days. Video games are reserved for evenings, when there isn’t sun to enjoy outside but there’s usually a game of poker going on somewhere on the property.

Will hadn’t been joking about the size of the lodge. The place ishuge,completely dwarfing the sweet farmhouse next door. Made entirely of glass and logs, every room offers amazing views out over the valley and to the mountains beyond. The main living space centers around an absolutely massive stone fireplace, and there are enough soft, slouchy couches and oversized floor pillows for everyone to lounge around. There’s a ridiculously large kitchen, where you can pretty much always find one of the cousins scrounging for food, and a wraparound deck filled with comfy loungers and creaky rocking chairs. I was surprised when Will took me on a tour to find some of the bedrooms weren’t in use. Apparently, most of the younger kids prefer to buddy up in rooms filled with bunk beds.

On the second afternoon, Will and I sit on the deck, drinking cold beer. There’s been an early heat wave in Tennessee and the sun feels more like summer than spring. Me and Will and the older cousins sun ourselves, watching while Reed plays some kind of Frisbee game with Presley, Nix, and Silas. I haven’t figured out the rules yet, but it seems to involve a lot of shouting.

“It’s so fucking hot out here,” River moans just as his mom walks by.

Daisy smacks him on the back of the head. “Language.”

“Are you kidding me?” he mumbles, rubbing his head. “I’ve heard the way dad talks with his brothers.”

“And when he does it in front of the kids, he gets a smack from me too,” she says. “Now get off your lazy butt and come help me bring up some more ice from the basement freezer.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he mumbles, following her into the house.

Rose smiles happily. “I love it when she puts him in his place.”

“Your mom is pretty awesome,” I tell her.

“The most awesome,” she agrees. The warmth in her eyes makes my heart twinge a bit. Seeing how the two of them interact makes me miss my own mom.

Will reaches over and squeezes my hand under the chair. Just like that the ache recedes. He always seems to know just what I need.

My attention is grabbed by an even louder outburst of shouting down on the lawn.

“I want a do-over,” Reed is yelling, while his daughter and Nix point and laugh at him.

“He got it in the slot!” Silas yells, and Reed high fives him.

“Hell yes I did, kid.”

“Cheater!” the other two call across the lawn.

Silas looks up to the deck, waving his arms. “Will! Come be our spotter.”

“Yeah!” Reed shouts, “since some people—like my own daughter—can’t be trusted.”

Will gives me a sheepish smile. “We take Can Jam pretty seriously around here.”

“Can Jam?”

He points at the game down below. “You throw the frisbees and try to get them in the can, pretty much.”