Splinters: Part One

Part One | 40

I turned, watching her hook a thumb over her shoulder.

"Sandwiches are ready." I nodded, but she came closer to us. "What's wrong?"

"Eda needs some cheering up," Collie smiled sadly.

Odera stood for a moment before running away. I wasn't sure what she was doing, but it only made Edaline bow her head even more.

"Eda, c'mon," I pleaded. "Do you want sandwiches?"

She shook her head. We all sat together in painfully, awkward silence for a minute or two until we heard loud girls come to us.

"Eda! Eda!" Net's high-pitched voice screamed.

I had a feeling she couldn't hear Net either, so I nudged her. Looking up, Edaline furrowed her eyebrows as she saw her youngest sister. Net came to her and knelt down, pulling on her hand. "C'mon! We're gonna play tag in the water!"

Edaline shook her head. "I can't get my hearing aid wet."

"Take it off!"

She seemed unsure, but I held out my hand. "I'll make sure it stays dry."

She thought for a moment before smiling and taking it off, setting it lightly in my hand before running with Annetta and Odera.

Collie and I grinned as we watched my sisters run back to Net's friends and play. Ursa and Bella were tanning near the water and both seemed to be deeply engaged in their conversation.

"You're a good big brother," Collie told me, taking my hand.

I probably blushed. "I try to be."

"You are."

"I guess I've kind of always had siblings. There were lots of younger kids at St. Anne's."

The two of us made our way to Melissa and Greg who were sitting underneath a large umbrella now. When they noticed us, they smiled.

"Hey guys. Having a good time, Collie?"

She nodded. "Yeah, thanks for letting me come."

Melissa gestured to the sandwiches. "Hungry? None of the girls wanted food yet."

I laughed awkwardly. "Yeah."

Collie and I both took some sandwiches and ate them before Melissa called the rest over to watch Net open presents. The one I really wanted to see was Collie's, even though I already knew what it was.

When Net opened it, she basically fell in love.

"Another Aurora?!" she squealed before rushing over to my girlfriend and wrapping her arms around her neck. "Thank you!"

Collie spoke in between fits of laughter. "You're welcome, Net."

I grinned at the image. Hearing Collie call my sister by her nickname felt like she knew the family - like she was part of the family. It was a nice. It was really nice.

Unfortunately, clouds began to make their way above our heads, and when it started trickling, Greg and Melissa rushed to put all of Net's presents in the car. Collie and I helped of course, but with me nearly tripping over a chair and her laughing way too hard, we only saved, like, one present.

Ursanne, Bella, and Odera all gathered the girls and piled them inside the car.

"We're not going to have enough room for all the girls," Melissa said when we all huddled around the car under the umbrella.

"Brayden can take some," Greg suggested.

"Yeah, I can," I said.

Collie clutched my hand as I tried to keep her from getting too wet.