Hope Against Hope: The Hope Brothers Series Read Free Page A

eyes shining with happiness. I smiled and everyone clapped as she sat back down.
    This was almost over , I told myself. I looked over at Ruby. She sat to my right, and she reached under the table and grabbed my hand and squeezed.
    “Your parents are so sweet,” she whispered.
    “Yeah, they are,” I replied. When I saw my brother, Seth, stand up, I groaned inwardly.
    “I have something to say,” he said, clinking his glass.
    “Oh, come on, Seth,” I mumbled.
    “What?” he replied, with mock indignation. “Can I not say a few words about my amazing sister?”
    “Hurry up,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
    “Georgia Anne Hope, the youngest of the Hope clan has finally graduated college!” he bellowed. “This means she can move out and get a job! This means she can get married and have a bunch of kids! Maybe she’ll even grow up a little and finally cut off all of that stringy black hair of hers. And…well, not much else, I reckon.” Seth raised his glass and continued. “So, let’s toast my little sister, who not long ago was running around the farm naked and covered in horse poop! Have you all heard that story? When George was six, she fell off her horse —,”
    Nervous laughter filled the room and I reached past Crit and pulled Seth down in his chair.
    “— that’s enough! Hush!” I demanded, interrupting him. My brothers knew exactly what to say and do to irritate me. Bringing up the horse poop incident where I fell off my horse, landed in a pile of manure, tore off my poop covered clothes, and then fell smack dab in another pile, was their favorite story to use against me.
    “Thank you for coming everyone! Please - enjoy your dessert!” I said, hoping to deflect the attention off of me. It worked. After some brief clapping, everyone turned their attention back to their plates.
    “God, you guys sure know how to embarrass me,” I said, as Seth and I sat back down at the table. The big round table held my entire family, and Ruby. They all laughed, except Ruby, who looked at me sympathetically.
    “That’s what family is for!” my Dad replied. I groaned, and dug into my chocolate cake, my mind already racing to the night ahead.

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    “Mom, can you take these balloons back in the car? They’re impossible to walk through,” I said.
    “You could just pop them,” Crit said, sticking the tip of his pocket knife into one of them. The loud pop made us all jump.
    “No, thanks. Please, Mom, don’t make me put up with that all night? You can put them in my room when you get home,” I said.
    She was running around the kitchen, wrapping up leftovers and putting them in the fridge. Crit was standing around like a lump on a log stuffing his face full of cake.
    “Sure, honey. Are you sure y’all are going to be alright tonight?”
    “Yes, of course. We’ve spent how many nights here? It’ll be fine.”
    “Okay, honey,” she said, looking around the kitchen and biting her lip nervously. “I guess we’ll go now. The Haggards are already in their car waiting to follow us home.”
    I walked around the room, collecting the strings of the balloons and gathering them together.
    “I’ll walk you out,” I said. Crit stood up and followed us.
    We reached their car, and Dad was already behind the wheel. Seth and Jesse were standing at the side of the car, talking to him. Beau and Finn were at their parent’s car behind us. I opened the back door, shoved the balloons in, and closed the door before they could escape.
    I leaned into the front of the car as Mom loaded up the back. “Sorry, Dad, I just can’t handle Crit popping these things all night,” I said.
    “That’s okay, babe. Have a wonderful night, George,” he said, winking at me. His eyes crinkled, and smiled. “Stay out of trouble tonight!”
    “Of course, Daddy. See you tomorrow.” I stood up and kissed my Mom. “Bye, Mom. Thanks for everything today. Love you.”
    “I love you, too, honey. Bye, boys! Call us if