The Word Game Read Online Free PDF Page A

dishwasher had been one of the best days of her life. So why was she doing dishes now, when Tricia had a dishwasher as well?
    Because it helped to clear her mind.
    “I thought you hated doing dishes?” Her husband, Gordon, said as he came up behind her.
    “Ja, ich weiß.” I know. She glanced over her shoulder. “But the dishwasher is already full. I thought I told her to use paper plates.”
    “I did, Mother.” Tricia held up a large black garbage bag as she stuffed napkins into it. “We ran out, though, for breakfast. A certain someone didn’t pick up enough paper plates last night.” Tricia pointed to her husband.
    “I did offer to wash the dishes,” Mark said.
    “Enough, you two. I don’t mind, and I’m happy to help.” Ida shook her head at her daughter and son-in-law. There was a tension in the air that came from the two of them, despite their efforts to hide it. A mother could tell these things.
    “Who’s left?” Mark asked Tricia as loud thumping music came from the top of the stairs.
    “Just Lyla and Keera,” Tricia said.
    “And they listen to that loud music?” Ida was a bit shocked. She knew the girls were into music now, always with headphones attached to their ears, but the music seemed especially loud.
    “I think it’s one of the songs from their routine.” Tricia rubbed her face and dropped the garbage bag. “I’ll go deal with it.”
    “No.” Mark laid his hand on her arm. “I’ve got it.”
    Ida waited until Mark was upstairs. “What’s going on between you two?” She was finished with the dishes and wiped her wet hands on her apron.
    “Nothing. Why?” Tricia hedged. She began to rub her left wrist, moving her cuffed bracelet out of the way. She stopped, pushing the cuff back down into place, when she realized Ida was watching her.
    “Because you two seem grumpy, that’s why,” Gordon said to his daughter. Ida was surprised he’d noticed the tension too.
    “We’re just tired. Having that many kids probably wasn’t my greatest idea.” Tricia then yawned.
    “They were up all night, were they? Any fooling around?” Ida asked.
    Gordon sat down at the now clean kitchen table. “I told you,” he said to Ida.
    “Told her what?” Tricia turned to face her father. “What did you say? What did he say?”
    Ida went and poured herself a fresh cup of coffee. “He’s just trying to get under your skin. Ignore him.”
    “I told your mother something was going to happen last night. Kids will be kids. I remember what you and your sister were like at that age. No doubt they were all sneaking off with one another. It’s those hormones.” Gordon teased his daughter, completely oblivious to the way she was clutching her hands. Couldn’t he see she wasn’t in the mood to be teased? And that this was a subject he knew nothing about?
    “Still, du Narr!” Quiet, you fool! If he would only just leave things alone.
    “Grandma, no German!” Gord Jr., Tricia’s youngest and named after her father, walked into the kitchen and gave his mother a hug, wrapping his arms around her waist. “What did she say?” he asked.
    “She just called your grandpa an old fool and told him to be quiet.”
    Ida caught the glare her daughter gave her father. He deserved it too.
    “What would you know about kids? And your daughters were never like that.” Ida tsk-tsked then went to sit down beside him at the table.
    “I remember enough. Especially what it’s like to be a boy in a house full of girls.” Gordon winked at his grandson, and Ida placed her hand on her husband’s arm, warning him to stop.
    “Brandon and a few of the girls were found in David’s bedroom last night.” Gord Jr. piped up.
    “Tricia, no!” This was news. Why hadn’t Tricia told her this before now?
    “Why don’t you go join your brothers now?” Tricia gave her son a frown before shooing him back where he came from. “It wasn’t that big of a deal,” she said, once her son had left.
    “Not that big of a