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“Probably a lot on you though.”
She shrugs. “It’s okay.” And a part of me wonders if she really thinks that or if she’s just trying to make things easier on everyone else.
“Do you know why your brother is acting out?”
She snorts. “No. I told him to stop, and no offense, if I can’t get him to, no one can.”
“Fair, but you have to have some idea?”
“Isn’t the obvious answer that he wants attention from our dad and misses our mom?” She shrugs and her lips form a straight line.
“Of course, I just wasn’t sure if there was more to it. Maybe something at school that your dad isn’t privy to.”
“No, school is where the Kincaid kids thrive.” She laughs. “We all excel and have friends. SJ acting out is a new thing but he’s still the smartest in his grade. They are practically begging my dad to move him up a year but that would move him to middle school and I honestly think my dad just hasn’t been ready to have us at three different schools yet.” I detect a hint of resentment in her voice and I wonder if she’s among the people begging him to move her brother up.
Our conversation is cut short when Isla comes bounding into the room excitedly and hops on the bed between me and Margot. She’s wearing an orange short-sleeved sundress with an orange hat backward and two low bun pigtails sticking out beneath it. I’m surprised not to see sunglasses but I suppose the hat serves as her accessory today. “Hi, Ellie! When did you get here?”
“Not long ago. I was just getting to know Margot a little.”
“Do you want to have a tea party?” she asks swinging her feet.
“Well, I’m not staying for much longer today, but how about on Monday when you get home from school?” I ask her, not wanting to blatantly tell her no while also giving her something to look forward to.
“You’ll be here?” she asks enthusiastically.
“I will be here.” I nod.
“Daddy says you’re going to live here now. Does that mean we can have sleepovers?”
Margot chuckles and tugs on one of her buns. “She’s not here for play. She’s here to help, Isles.”
She gives me a little pout and just as I’m about to tell her thatsometimeswe can have sleepovers, their father appears in the doorway.
“Daddy!” Isla hops off the bed and runs straight at him. He scoops her up and presses a kiss to her cheek.
“Hi, Princess. Listen, I have to run to the office to grab a brief, but I should be back in an hour or so.”
Isla immediately frowns and begins to kick her feet. “But you said we could get ice cream!”
He sets her down and kneels in front of her. “And we still can…” My heart squeezes in my chest over the fact that he looks just as disappointed as she does.
“Nuh uh, last time you said that, you weren’t back to tuck me in!” Remembering he called her thehappy-go-luckychild, I’m wondering what exactly constitutes that in his eyes.
“I won’t be that late, I promise.”
She huffs and puts her hands on her hips. Instantly, I watch him remove them, keeping her hands encased in his.Okay, so he keeps the sass in check. That’s good.“I have to go, Angel. I’m sorry.”
“Can Margot take me?”
He looks up at his eldest daughter and she nods; I’m guessing this is how a lot of these conversations go. “Sure, honey.” He stands up and looks at Margot.
“There’s a football game tonight, so I’m cheering,” Margot explains.
“What time?”
“Eight,” Margot says and he sighs.
I’m guessing even he thinks he could be gone a little longer than the hour he promised.