Chapter 157

Almara’s Pov

We make it back home in once piece. The three day cruise ride back was better than every other day spent on that Island. It was the vacation I knew we could have. We played different deck games, enjoyed our fair share of cocktails and sunsets, and Grace was always in our sight.

When we finally got service we answered all the worried texts and calls from our parents who heard about the ship that sunk. Still, that didn’t stop them from waiting outside the font door with worry lines creasing their foreheads when we stepped out of the car.

“There you are!” My mother says with her arms in the air. I brace myself for her embrace, but it’s Grace she moves to hold, cutting off Elenor from her reach. I must say I’m surprised to see my parents still here.

I look at Arthur and know we’re both thinking the same thing, we need to move. “I told the cruise crew we would aid in relief support.” Arthur says to Roman.

“Already in the works.” Roman says. “How was the vacation other than that?”

“A dream.” Arthur lies without skipping a beat and I offer my own tight smile worried if I open my mouth I won’t be able to hide the truth as easily. Everyone keeps their eyes on me, waiting for more detail.

“Being in the wilderness really activated Grace’s primal instincts,” I say which is true. Each grandparents gives Grace a wide-eye impressed kind of look.

“I knew we had another leader among us.” Roman says with a proud smile.

“Yeah, Arthur and I are going to take her to a specialist tomorrow.” I say and then add with a shrug. “We want to see what we’re dealing with.” I say with a half smile.

“Is everything all right, dear?” My mother asks.

“Yeah. It’s just hard to see her growing up.” I say. My mother gives a look of understanding.

“Your father and I would love to come with you guys.” My mother offers. Arthur sees my struggle to deny them and swoops in for me.

“Actually, we we’re going to go just as a family.” Arthur says with much respect, still I can tell whatever dislike was forming among my parents towards Arthur just deepened.

“It’s nothing personal, it’s just not necessary.” I say, trying to smooth over whatever damage has been done.

“Well, you all must be exhausted and want your things unpacked.” Elenor says. “Why don’t you head inside for some lunch and we’ll have someone tend to your things.” Thankful for the escape, Arthur and I begin to move quickly.

“Surely that’s not necessary.” My father says, stopping us in our tracks. “Almara’s a hard worker, she gets that from her father. She can unpack her own clothes.” My father insists, putting me in a really uncomfortable spot.

“We are pretty beat from the traveling, dad.” I say, hoping he takes the hint. He doesn’t.

“Then unpack later.” He says putting his foot down and I have to say I’m a bit irritated that as a grown woman with a child of my own he thinks he can still tell me what to do.

Still, respect for elders is a core value among any pack. “Okay.” I say with a forced smile.

The evening is terse. I learned my parents stayed out of want to see more of their granddaughter and unsure if I would ever make the time to visit, they took matters into their own paws.

Roman and Elenor carried on business as usual, which means they hardly we’re in the house which is obvious as much seeing that no kinship among our two parents has developed.

I find myself more and more eager to be out of the house as if the coldness that occupies the house has dropped to a lower degree.

The doctors office is a balance of clean and homey which I appreciate. It reminds me of the nursing home that Bess would have stayed in. When the driver drops us off we’re greeted by a lovely staff at the front desk.

A young woman with a high blond bun and pink lips smiles warmly at us. “Hello you must be Almara and Arthur,” she says with a bow. “And this must be our special pride and joy.” She says looking down at Grace who smiles, but shyly buries her face into my shoulder.

“What a cutie.” The woman says. “Please take a seat and the doctor will be right out.” We s on a black leather loveseat in the waiting room. The moss-colored walls are decorated with pictures of motivational sayings. I read one that says:

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” -A.A Milne.

Arthur reads the quote I’m looking at. “I think that’s meant for you too.” He says with a wink. I playfully roll my eyes, but I like to think so too. The door opens and a man in a long white coat makes eye contact with us.

“Come on back you three.” He says and adjusts the glasses siding down his nose. The office is larger than I expected. The room is painted a sky blue with white tile, but further back is a large section of turf and something like a jungle gym.

The doctor is tall, bald, and has big hands that he’s using to flip through a clipboard. “I have organized a series of tests for Grace to complete.” The doctor says keeping his eyes on the clip board looking very serious, then in swift motion lowers the board down and flashes us a smile. “Let’s begin.”

Grace is put through obstacle courses similar to the ones that Arthur built on the beach, though these are more sophisticated. They test Grace’s agility, balance, hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and speed.

Each test presented to her I have my doubts, but she conquers every single one put out in front of her. The only one she get’s stuck on is balancing on a large rubber ball, not because it’s hard but because she’s having fun with it. Even when she does fall and tumble down, she moves quickly to pick herself back up.

Arthur claps after she completes each one and I watch biting on my nails, though I’m not sure why. I think I’m worried if she does too well that everyone will want to take her away from me. That she might just become something for everyone to study and probe at.

We come up to the final test. Grace must use the objects set up like a maze to hide behind and hunt for a motorized mouse moving through the makeshift maze without being seen by the mouse’s motion detector in its eye. The doctor shows her what must be done once and then presses a timer and waits for her to mimic his actions.

We all wait in suspenseful silence, even the doctor who hasn’t said anything seems to be watching with a great invested interest.

Grace is off to a slow start which wasn’t like her other performances. She keeps darting her eyes between a pop-up tunnel and the fake mouse that’s moving about freely. Just when we think nothing is going to happen, Grace makes her move.

She ducks into the tunnel, barely causing it to move. She peaks her head out on the other end, spots the mouse which was a split second away from noticing her and then quickly pulls herself back in. I swear that I see her butt wiggle as she gets ready to pounce.

I realize that I’m holding my breath, but I’m worried if I breathe I might somehow mess up her plan. Arthur puts a strong hand on my thigh and has a look on his face that he already knows his daughter is about to pass this test too.

Just then, Grace leaps out from the tunnel and catches the mouse under both her hands. I jump up, sending the orange plastic chair I was sitting to skid across the floor and want to cheer. Arthur does the same. We go to scoop up Grace and parade her with applause and kisses.

I almost forget what I was worried about until I hear the slow claps from the doctor. “It’s confirmed.” He says, removing his glasses. “Your daughter is a genius.”