Red Rain

22

“Mark, be reasonable. It’s a perfect solution. I can’t believe you’re the one being the hard-ass about this.” Lea’s hands were clenched into tight fists over the kitchen table.

Mark reached across the table to take her hand, but she snapped it out of his reach. “I think I’m being the reasonable one,” he said.

“I think I am,” Roz insisted. She had put Axl down for his nap and joined them in the kitchen for what had started out as a quiet discussion and, much to Mark’s dismay, quickly elevated into a shouting match.

Ira was sulking in his room. Elena had taken the twins on a walking tour of the neighborhood to show them the bay. The boys were hopping up and down with excitement and had no idea of the conflict they had caused among the three adults.

Lea took a breath and started another attempt to persuade Mark. “You saw the look on Ira’s face when the boys wanted his room. He was sick. He was about to have a fit.”

“Of course he was,” Mark started. “He had every right-”

“So then they saw the guesthouse and totally fell in love with it,” Roz interrupted. Mark gazed at the dark stains on the front of her sweater. Axl was constantly using her sweater as a napkin.

“They don’t know what they want,” Mark said, turning to Lea. “How could they? It’s like they stepped onto another planet.”

“They know they want to live in the guesthouse,” Lea said, jaw clenched, eyes about to tear up again. “And Roz has agreed to move up to the attic.”

“It’s better for me anyway,” Roz said. “I can keep a closer watch on everyone if I’m staying inside the house. And the attic is even roomier-”

“And that way, Ira will keep his room,” Lea said. “That’s so important. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Ira’s equilibrium.”

“No! No way!” Mark jumped to his feet, nearly knocking over his chair. “I built the attic room for the boys. They should be in the house. We don’t know anything about them. We have to take special care of them. We can’t have them living by themselves in their own house, even if it’s in the backyard. That’s crazy.”

Lea motioned with both hands for him to calm down. “We want to make them happy, Mark.”

Mark felt his throat tighten. “So you’ll do anything they want? Is that your idea?”

“Mark, stop shouting. Can’t we sit here and have a calm discussion? Roz and I agree-”

“Leave Roz out of this. We’re the ones adopting these. . these. .”

“Leave me out of it? I thought I was part of this family. God knows, I’m the one spending most of the time with the kids.”

Mark patted her hand. “Sorry, Roz.” He turned to Lea. “I’m not trying to be difficult. I see how happy you are. I see you already have strong feelings for these boys. You know I didn’t want them here, but I’m going to try, Lea. I’m going to do everything I can. But you can’t just give in to them. You can’t give them everything they want. They don’t know-”

“You saw them pleading and pleading to live in the guesthouse. You saw how excited they were.”

“I just think it’s too soon to have them living on their own. We don’t know how they’re going to adapt. We don’t know if we can trust them. We don’t know-”

“They won’t be living on their own. No way. They’ll be with us all the time. We’ll-” Lea gasped. Her eyes were over Mark’s shoulders. “Oh no.”

Mark spun around and saw the twins huddled in the kitchen doorway. He felt his heart skip a beat. “How long have you two been standing there?”

They both shrugged. Mark realized their eyes were on him. They were studying him. Had they overheard his true feelings?

An awkward silence in the room. Then Lea stood up and flashed them a broad smile. “Good news, boys. We had a vote here. And we voted two to one. Roz and Axl are going to move to the attic-and you two get to stay in the guesthouse.”

She turned to Mark as if challenging him. But he knew when he was defeated.

The twins cheered and did a funny, awkward tap dance of celebration. But their smiles faded quickly. “Only one thing,” Daniel said softly. “Samuel and I will take the guesthouse only if you promise us one thing.”

Mark narrowed his eyes at them. Now what? What is their next demand?

“Only if Ira will come have sleepovers with us,” Daniel said.

He saw Lea’s chin quiver. The tears were about to flow again.

“Are they angels?” she whispered. “Is that the sweetest thing?”