Chapter 5 #2
In answer, Aurora started cackling. Adam and Lout winced in unison.
I dabbed at the blood beneath Serana’s nose, but she frowned before she took the paper towel from me and pressed a little harder to remove the blood. She sniffed and then wiped again before she asked, “Did I get all of it?”
“Yeah. It wasn’t a full-fledged bloody nose; she probably just cut you with her razor nails.”
“They are awfully sharp,” Lout admitted.
“You should file those off just like you do her horns,” Heath suggested as he took the baby from Lout and kissed her cheek. “Let’s go outside, Rora. I’m sure we can find something for you to destroy in the backyard.”
“I’d like to argue that my little girl is an angel, but we all know that’s not the path she’s gonna choose.”
“Preach,” Lout muttered.
“Can you stand up? I’d like to examine you,” I said as I took Serana’s hand to help her.
“I bet you would,” Josh said under his breath.
“Don’t you guys have something to do?”
“Not really,” Lout said with a shrug.
“I’m good,” Adam answered with a grin.
Josh was just as irritating when he said, “I’m just watching the show.”
“I need to take Serana to get checked out, so you guys lock the door when you leave,” I told them as she got to her feet. Once she was standing, I put my hands on her shoulders to help her balance and said, “Let me get my keys, and I’ll . . .”
“How long was I out?” Serana asked.
“Less than a minute.”
“I don’t need a CT, so there’s no reason for you to take me to the emergency room.”
“I’d feel better if you were seen by a doctor.”
“I told you!” Lout exclaimed.
“I’m not going anywhere near the hospital unless I absolutely have to,” Serana insisted. “I’ll take some Tylenol and make myself an ice pack.”
“Since my angel caused all this, I’ll make it for you,” Adam offered.
“Technically, it was my fault because I didn’t realize she was holding onto your hair,” Lout said as he led Serana toward the table while holding onto her arm. “She shows her love a little differently, and some people might not understand that.”
“She shoved her frickin’ hand up Serana’s nose!” Josh reminded him.
“It wasn’t her entire hand,” Lout argued with an eye roll. “She was just exploring her surroundings. That’s perfectly normal for a child her age.”
I closed my eyes and wished with all my might that my friends and family were normal and would miraculously disappear. That worked just as well as it always had, which meant that they didn’t go anywhere and also didn’t shut the hell up.
“Just give the woman some room to breathe, guys,” I insisted as I nudged my uncle out of the way. “Y’all go outside while I take care of Serana. I’ll come out once I get her settled on the couch.”
“I’m not going to lay down, Roscoe. I didn’t have a damn heart attack; I just bumped my head!”
“I really think we should take you for a CT.”
“If you want me to, I can get her into the truck for you,” Lout offered. When I glared at him, he said, “I’d hate for her to keel over dead. It’s too early in her life for Aurora to get a rep for that sort of thing.”
Serana looked at Lout like he was nuts and then did the same thing to the rest of us when none of us argued his point. “No one is gonna put me in the truck. I’m not going anywhere. I’m fine.”
“She’s stubborn,” Josh announced.
“It’s a woman thing. Willow could be missing a limb and would still insist that she was fine,” Lout announced.
“Right now, I think the only thing that would help me is some peace and quiet. Instead of kidnapping me, can you make that happen?” Serana asked sweetly.
“Jesus! She even sounds like Willow!” Lout muttered as he walked toward the back door.
“I better make sure Rora hasn’t taken Heath hostage yet,” Adam said as he followed Lout outside.
“She’s a sweet girl, just a little . . . Hamilton,” Josh explained. “Which is not to be confused with Forrester. That is a completely different kind of animal.”
“They’re all feral; it’s just to different degrees,” Josh commented as he walked away. “Aurora is still at the baby raccoon stage, but a few of the others have already reached full-on honey badger status.”
Once we were alone, Serana said, “Your uncle is nice, and of course, I like your friends, but sometimes, I don’t understand them at all.”
“That’s perfectly normal, especially since none of them are,” I replied as I nudged her toward the table to sit down. “Let me get you an ice pack and some Tylenol.”
“I’ll be fine, Roscoe.”
“Yes, you will because I’ll make sure of it.”
I sent a text as I watched Serana take the pain relievers. Right about the time I’d filled up the ice pack and gotten her settled in my recliner, the front door opened and Terran appeared.
“Since you refuse to go to the emergency room, I asked my associate to make a house call.”
“Which kid did she tangle with?” Terran asked as he walked in carrying a backpack over his shoulder. “Depending on which one, there may not be anything I can do.”
“You guys make it sound as if the kids in your family have rabies!” Serana exclaimed as she eyed Terran warily.
“Luckily, that’s something we actually haven’t encountered yet,” Terran replied.
His expression didn’t show that he was making a joke. I understood why it might be hard for Serana to tell, yet she surprised me when she asked, “But it’s not out of the realm of possibility?”
“Absolultely not. I’ve considered starting a vaccine schedule, but that would put me within arms’ reach of them. I’m just not willing to put myself in that much danger unnecessarily.”
Serana burst out laughing and stuck her hand out as she said, “I’m Serana Gonzales.”
“Terran Parker.” Terran shook her hand and then sat down on the ottoman and unzipped his bag as he asked, “Now, which kid attacked you, and how were you injured?”
“Do they randomly attack people often?” Serana asked.
“Not usually, but their demonstrations of affection are with bats and hammers sometimes, so that’s a good opening question.
Recently, there was an incident with electricity that was concerning.
Oh, and when one of them found a patch of poison ivy and decided to use it to play pranks on some of the adults, things got a little wild, but that was years ago. ”
Serana was smiling when she looked at me and announced, “Roscoe, I absolutely adore your family.”
Terran shook his head and said, “Yeah, she definitely needs a CT.”