Page 72 (1/2)

By the ti duties that had felt like ood twentyroo to see Jude tucked away in a corner somewhere as -moments reel

But I heard nothing but silence as I pushed open the swing door in the living rooe amount of tension on the door as itthe door and then heard a bunch of shouts and laughter

What the hell?

I stepped into the rooe marble fly past my feet

“It worked!” Nattie called fro on the couch, a blanket tossed over his legs Natalia and Elena were on the other end and sitting in theof marbles

Jude looked at Maks and asked, “Again?”

Maks nodded I could tell the little boy wasn’t feeling his best because he was quieter than usual He often had trouble after eating

Jude handed Maks the marble and then helped the little boy sit up so he could place the marble on the sill behind the couch

"Again, Uncle Nikolai!" Nattie called All eyes fell onto the door behindattached to the handle of the door I followed the length of the string which went to the opposite side of the room and disappeared behind the couch It tookat

At first glance, it looked like there were strange ite roo, some kitchen utensils, even pieces of a broken blind that had been sitting in the corner of the rooether in a way that they formed some kind of track

I did as the kids asked and pulled the swing door towardactivated another I turned to see the h the impromptu track that included a couple of loops that had theupside down The kids cheered as the marble went over and beneath different household objects before racing down a steep ra past my feet

As Maks, Elena, and Natalia cheered, rin on his face But as soon as he caughtat him, the smile faded and he dropped his eyes