“I can’t believe she said that. I wasn’t sure if they would think it was a spray or funny.” I glued on another sequin. “Thank God they all started laughing.”
“No dramas, this family has a great sense of humor.” Imogen held her egg up to look it over. “I don’t think I’m going to win with this egg. My idea didn’t work.”
“Bond, what do you think?” Imogen held her egg up higher.
“Solitaire, it looks good to me, but then all of them are better than mine. I just have paint on it.”
Hank entered the room, ringing the large Easter bell this time. No one else was startled but Imogen and me. Sophie stood on her chair to see what the ringing was all about and, frankly, I wanted to do the same.
“What’s this all about?” I leaned over to Murphy. “Is time up?”
“Not a chance. It’s only just begun,” Murphy chuckled. “We really should have explained the whole thing to you.”
I watched as everyone stopped what they were doing and sat back to enjoy their mint water and cookies. Diana and Hank cleared all the decorations off the table, leaving only each of our eggs. She quietly refilled everyone’s glasses, then Hank rang the bell once again. Two servants carried in trays full of different decorations than the previous.
“Aunt Mia, look at the pretty flowers.” Sophie bounced up and down, then coughed. “Do we get to pick some?”
“Shh, listen to what Miss Victoria is saying.” Mia pulled her into her lap.
“Hank will ring the bell for round two now. You have five minutes to pick supplies.” Victoria nodded to Hank to ring the bell.
I raised my hand while Victoria was talking. Mia gave me a “what are you doing” look, but I continued to hold my hand up.
“Chloe, do you have a question before we start?” Victoria asked, then smiled.
“Yes, I was wondering how many rounds there are?” I asked.
“Fair question, and I should have told you at the start,” Victoria apologized. “There are four rounds. Each round you get less time. So, round one you got forty-five minutes, round two is thirty minutes, round three is twenty minutes and round four is ten minutes.”
“Strewth Crickey,” I shook my head in surprise. “This is amazing.”
“Please have fun, that’s what this is all about,” Victoria said, then Hank rang the bell.
Trey was the first one to the supply table, followed by Murphy, who was now trying to push her way in front of him. I sat back and watched this time. The dynamic of this family was something to be envied. I looked to Mia to see if she was feeling what I was feeling.
“I love you,” Mia mouthed with a huge smile.
Yeah, she was thinking about our parents too.
The twins were at the supply table arguing over flowers. Imogen took her cell out and did a drive-by quick snap over Trey’s head. I had to cover my mouth to not laugh out loud.
“Come on now, you have to share that picture.” I slid my chair closer to her. “Would this count as cheating?”
“He’s hiding his egg from the whole family,” Parker said from behind us. “Let me see the picture. It’s time we beat him.”
I was so surprised to find the quiet Dr. Parker behind us. I quickly looked over to Mia. She didn’t see me- she was watching Sophie, who was in the middle of climbing off her chair. I watched my inquisitive daughter as she wandered around the room looking at all the eggs. Then, I held my breath when she approached Trey. He’d been so secretive with his egg that I wasn’t sure if he would be annoyed with her invasion.
“Do you have to sit by yourself because you got up a creek?” Sophie walked right up to him. “I can get you a cookie and a drink. It’s not elevensies but it still tastes good.”
Chapter 7
Trey
“Hello there. You must be the Miss Sophie I heard was visiting. What a pretty Easter dress you have on.”
I found myself looking into matching blue eyes surrounded by blonde hair that was Chloe’s mini-me, but I wondered about the deep circles under her eyes and the noticeably heavy breathing. As a pediatrician, I didn’t like how pale she looked.
“This isn’t my dress, silly. It’s an apron Miss Diana gave me,” Sophie laughed. “My dress is under it.”
“Oh, I know. I can see how pretty it is under the apron. See, you can see my shirt under the apron.” I pointed to my shirt.
“Your egg is very pretty. Mine isn’t like yours,” she said on a heavy breath. “I put lots of glitter on mine but now it has to dry.”
“You can stay here and visit with me while your egg dries if you want to.” I slid my chair over so she could stand closer to the table. “Are you having fun doing your egg with your Aunt Mia?”
“Yes, I miss her a lot. I wish she still lived Down Under.” Sophie propped her head in her hands. “These are the biggest eggs I ever decorated.”
“I know, they’re very big. I like doing the little ones too.” I looked back toward the family. “Did you go look at everyone’s eggs already?”
“No, I got too tired to go look. I can see them from my chair, but I couldn’t see yours.” Sophie pushed the flowers around with one hand. “I’m only little so maybe that’s why I got tired.”
“You look like such a big girl,” I looked closer at her face, “how old are you?”
“I’m six and a half,” Sophie declared, holding up her fingers. “How old are you?”
“Oh my goodness, Sophie, you don’t ask adults how old they are,” Chloe gently scolded, walking up behind us. “Sorry if she’s bothering you.” She tried moving her away.
“She would never bother me,” I answered on a light smile. “She seems tired. Is she used to a nap?”
“She does get tired easily these days.” Chloe fidgeted with Sophies hair.
I’d been listening to her heavy breathing. I turned in my chair and squatted down to be face-to-face with Sophie, playing at a casual conversation, but really having a closer look at her.
“Can you show me on your fingers again how old you are?” I asked, now noticing the white around her lips and the blue under her fingernails as she did. “Sophie, tell me something. Did you like the plane ride here?”
“It was the most fun thing I ever did,” Sophie said through a couple of coughs. “Did you ever go on a big plane like me?”
“Yes, I’ve been on a big plane. I’ve even been on small planes,” I said, standing back up. “Would you like to have an Easter egg hunt with us later?”
“An Easter egg hunt? Are we hunting for these big bum nuts?” Sophie perked up at that. “You can’t put too many in an Easter basket.”
“You’re very smart. Are you sure you’re only six and a half?” I watched her smile widen at the compliment.
“Yes, Mr. Trey, Aunt Mia says I’m very smart too.” Sophie looked up at her mother. “I can’t wait to get to go to school.”
“You mean back to school after Easter break?” Her answer puzzled me. “Are you in first grade?”