Julia had three girls that Hue could only pick out at the table because they were girls.. Since Kit had only boys, Julia only had girls, and he knew Math’s kids well. He always knew whose kids were whose when they were all together.
“I would like that. What time?” he asked, because Amanda was sure to be there, and where Amanda was, Hue wanted to be.
“Early. I hope that Mandy is out of her funk tomorrow.” Julia looked down the table at her sister, who was excusing herself. Nobody else seemed to notice.
“Me too,” he said, and his attention was taken by two of Kit’s older boys, who started to argue about something.
By the time the meal was over, Hue knew Amanda had left. Julia had been talking to Kit at her other side, and they agreed that she was too depressed to stay. He tried not to listen, but his ears strained to hear what they were saying.
Kit leaned toward her sister and whispered, “I cannot believe your mother.”
“Oh,nowshe’s my mother.” Julia rolled her eyes at her sister.
“She’s always been harder on Mandy than anyone else about her weight. I mean, I’m thirty pounds heavier than I was before James was born, but she hasn’t said boo,” Kit was saying.
“She just notices it on her because we are shaped the same. We’re built like dad. AKA, we carry it better,” Julia said.
“I guess.” Kit only shrugged.
“It doesn’t help that she’s in her depression cycle,” Julia commented.
Hue wondered what they meant by that. Did she have depression and he never even knew? But if Math didn’t know, Hue didn’t know. He was hating that he had to get all his information about Amanda from her brother.
“I know. I think the baby dug that up,” Kit agreed.
“Maybe it’s the holidays. She was kind of like this last year too,” Julia went on.
“I was pregnant with James then, so maybe that was why,” Kit stated.
“Do you think it’s that again? It’s been years,” Julia replied cryptically.
“Baby Zia is in her face all the time. She’s friends with Tess, and Math is her brother. Maybe it’s too much for her. After her distance with Josiah, I didn’t even try to push with James. I could tell it was bothering her.” Kit scooted her empty plate away.
“Do you think she’ll go by the cemetery?” Julie questioned.
“No. Mom says she’s never been there. Mandy would be so happy today if, you know…” Kit sighed.
“I know. She would be ten this year, a few months younger than your Jacob,” Julie said about one of Kit’s boys.
Kit was silent for a few moments as their mom tried to get in on the conversation, but neither sister let her. So, she busied herself with something else before the sisters started talking again.
With a sigh, Kit said, “I don’t know if giving her space is the way to go. Or if being on her so that she has to talk about it is better. You never know with Mandy.”
“What are you two whispering about over there?” Math interrupted the conversation.
“You making an honest woman out of Tess,” Kit shot back at him.
“I just bet.” Math let it drop. That was his usual response to his getting married.
Beside him, the sisters got up and started taking dirty dishes off the table, their conversation over. Soon, the men were back in front of the TV, but for Hue, trying to watch the game was impossible. Sadly, the game held no interest to him with Amanda gone.
As soon as the game was over, he made his excuses and left the family get-together. It didn’t hold as much appeal without Amanda. As he walked across the lawn, he heard his name being called.
Turning, he saw Math jogging toward him. “You’re leaving so soon?” Math asked in confusion.
“Yeah, just not feeling right today.”
“Sure, it happens. Julia said she invited you to the trail ride.”