Beckett (Robinson Destruction #4) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,48

think he’s jealous.”

“When they start walking, do you think they’ll show him how to do it?” Anna told her that was probably what was going to happen. “Grandpa Robinson said that the cycle of a person is round. That you start out not knowing anything until you learn a few things. Then as you grow older, you start to reverse yourself and don’t know anything again. I think that’s just sad.”

“He’s been thinking about his death a great deal lately. Like he’s going to go to bed every night and not wake up. I’ve been talking to him about it, but he’s a stubborn old goat.” Marie came to stand on her lap. She didn’t weigh much, but it was still a little scary to have her there. “They won’t break, Holly. They just love people.”

“I know. Renee was standing on her sister a few minutes ago, and I thought for sure they were going to have a rumble.” They both laughed. “I’d like to show you something. If you don’t mind.”

“No. Go ahead.” Holly put Renee by the other couch, then she did the same for Marie. “They’ll be dropping down to their butts in a minute to get to you—”

Marie took her sister’s hand, and the two of them walked across the room toward her. They had to stop a couple of times to steady themselves, but they made it all the way to her. When she and Anna clapped, all three of the kids clapped as well.

“You got them to walk to you!” Anna said that she wanted to see if they could do it again. “That way, I can record it. Oh, Holly, you got them to do something none of us have been able to do. They’re walking.”

“They will come to me one at a time, but they’d rather be holding hands. I think if we were to put something in their hands as they walked over here, they’d do it on their own. Marie might not need anything, but Renee does.” She put the girls back by the other couch and handed Renee the stuffed tiger that was on the floor. “Come on, guys. Show Mommy how smart you are.”

They did it again, this time not holding hands but having fun—every few steps, they’d have to stop and clap their hands. By the time they were halfway to her, Renee had dropped the stuffed animal and made her way to her on her own. It was the greatest thing she’d ever witnessed.

“I can’t believe it. They’re walking.” The girls were so happy with themselves that they walked to Anna. Holly wasn’t sure what was going on when Anna started crying. She told her she was sorry. “No. You didn’t do anything wrong, Holly. I’m just happy. So happy that you did this for us. There’s not going to be anything to stop them now. Have you done anything else since you’ve been here? I’m betting if you hung around more, they’d be going to college next week. I’m joking. I’m so happy right now.”

Eddie could sit up, but he was like a little toy. Once he got too excited or even moved too much, he’d roll right over onto his back again. Holly would set him up so that he could try it again.

The girls, pleased with the hand claps and people gushing over them, were all over the living room now. They would fall a few times and had to be helped up, but Anna was right; there was no stopping them now. Also, she noticed that everything within their reach was fair game to them. The room was such a mess that Holly started picking things up. Renee knocked her brother over, trying to knock some of the pretty things off the coffee table, and Holly scolded her.

It broke her heart when Renee’s lower lip came out and quivered a little. Then big fat tears started to fall before she wailed like Holly had hit her. Anna said to not get caught up in her scheme for getting away with something, but it hurt Holly too much not to cuddle the little girl.

“I’m sorry I hurt your heart, Renee. But you have to be careful of your brother. He’s littler than you.” The little girl looked up at her, still crying tears that made her own eyes fill with them. “When I was a little girl, the little boy across the street was forever hurting my feelings too. He was older than