Page 118 of Rebel (Renegades 2)
“Oh dear,” Birdie said. “I’ve run out of sugar. ” She untied her apron. “I’ll just go next door and borrow some from Mabel. ”
“Hold on, Birdie. It’s dark outside. I’ll go with you. Just let me put another video on for Abby. ”
“You’re such a sweet girl, Missy. Thank you, dear. I’ll wait by the front door. ”
Rubi rolled her eyes at the Missy reference on her way into the family room. She blew her hair back and searched through the Dora DVDs. “Oh, this one sounds cute,” she said, working for enthusiasm. “Dora saves the Prince. ”
“I’ve seen that one,” Abby said.
“You’ve seen them all, sweetheart. ” Rubi fingered through the cases. “Twenty-five times. Okay, here’s a great one. The Chocolate Tree. Everyone loves chocolate, right?” When Abby wrinkled her nose, Rubi turned over the case and read, “Dora and Boots seek the Chocolate Tree and a gift for Abuela. ” She added a Hispanic accent for a flourishing Abuela, making Abby giggle.
“Okay. ”
“Thank God,” Rubi muttered under her breath and lowered to her knees to switch out the DVDs, but ended up struggling with the damn machine.
An ear-piercing screech rose in the next room. Her heart lurched to her throat, and she swung around. Abby was gone.
“Fuck,” she whispered and dropped her face into her hands.
Emma wailed again, so loud Rubi winced.
Then Abby started yelling over her. “I didn’t mean it. I was just trying to help. ”
The headache Rubi had been holding back broke loose. Pain spread across her forehead and exploded behind her eyes.
“Girls,” she groaned as she pushed to her feet. “No need to scream. ”
When she stepped into the kitchen, Rubi remembered Birdie. “I’ll be right there, Birdie,” she yelled over the chaos. But got no answer. “Birdie?” Rubi surveyed Emma’s tower. It was in perfect condition. She glanced at Emma, who had tears streaming down her face, then at Abby, “Why is she screaming?”
Abby pointed to the Lego piles Emma had separated into color. A few yellows had fallen into the blue pile. Rubi started to reach for them to straighten them out but pulled her hand back. “Emma?” The girl’s screaming turned to gurgles. “Emma? Do you want me to fix the colors for you?”
She nodded. But then collapsed in tears.
Abby, seemingly unfazed, skipped back into the living room. “Rubi, where’s the Chocolate Tree?”
Now Rubi wanted to break down into tears.
Her phone buzzed in her back pocket. Rubi pulled it out and peered through the hallway toward the front door.
WES: Still alive?
RUBI: Barely. Emma’s on to something with the tear-filled tantrums. I’m thinking it’s the way to go from now on. How’s Wyatt?
“Birdie?” Rubi called.
WES: Not great. Blood clots caused the swelling to his legs. Traveled to his lungs. Really dangerous. He’s just out of CAT scan. They’re trying to find a room for him. Hospital’s full.
RUBI: Is he going to be okay?
Then she had a really frightening thought.
RUBI: Did the rig cause them?
“Oh God. ” She closed her eyes, a sudden knot in her chest. “Please say no. ”
WES: No. Moving the legs prevents blood clots. He’ll be fine now.
She exhaled, and the knot inside her unraveled. Until she thought about Birdie.
