Unbreak my Heart by I. R. Johannesen

dinner.”
    “That’s great. Look Crank, thank you so much again for agreeing to have the boys for a while. It’s a real load off my mind knowing they are being taken care of properly with you instead of at home at the ranch by themselves.”
    “So has there been any more news about Eli’s condition?” he asked again.
    “Yes.” she said cheerily. “The doctor on call said that some of the swelling on Eli’s brain has already started to go down and his vital signs have improved immensely. He thinks that if Eli keeps improving at the same speed as today they may be able to bring him out of his coma the day after tomorrow.”
    Crank felt relieved. “And do they still think he may have any form of brain damage?”
    “It’s still possible,” Macey admitted, “but the doctors are a lot more optimistic now than what they were this morning. They say that apart from a few temporary gross and fine motor deficits, he’s likely to be just fine.”
    Crank breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Mace that’s absolutely wonderful news,” he said excitedly. “I’ll pass that on to the boys for you as soon as I get back inside the restaurant.”
    “Crank!” Macey said. “Can I just ask one more favour?”
    Crank ’s stomach rumbled as he glimpsed in through the window of the restaurant and saw that several trays of mixed pizza pieces had arrived at the table along with some sides of garlic bread and several jugs of soda. “Of course Mace, anything, just ask.”
    “Could you please encourage the boys to get out and explore the lake a little rather than sit around with their computers chatting on social media websites, or in Michael’s case, burying his head in YouTube and books? The brochures for Caddo Lake all looked so peaceful and interesting and I would love for them to get out and explore it. Heck, when we were kids Mama and Daddy hardly saw us between sun up and sun down. We were always too busy riding our bikes or climbin’ trees to stay indoors.”
    “ And fishin’ and swimmin’,” Crank reminded her. “Look Sis, don’t worry about Michael and Edward, just concentrate on Eli. I’ll make sure the boys get out of the cabin and experience nature.”
    “Thanks Crank, I’ll call again as soon as I have some more news, okay.”
    “Okay Mace, I’d better get back to the boys before they start bickering again.”
    “Tell them I love them ,” she interjected.
    “Will do, bye”
    “Bye.”
    After telling the twins the good news about their father, the five of them enjoyed a delicious feed of pizzas and soda until they were all stuffed. When all of the pizza was finally finished Michael and Edward asked Crank for some coins so they could try their luck at winning Willow a toy from the claw machine and suddenly he and Clare were alone again for the first time since he had kissed her outside her cabin.
    “Edward and Michael seem like fine young men,” she complimented, breaking the awkward silence that had crept in. “And Willow certainly seems to like them.”
    Crank looked over toward the claw machine and watched as the two boys worked together to pick up a soft toy in the claw while Willow stood nearby cheering them on. “They used to be the same with Ellie before she died,” he said sadly, remembering how much the boys used to enjoy hanging out with their younger cousin.
    “Whenever Georgia and I used to visit their folk’s ranch, they would keep her entertained for hours. Then, when it was time to leave, we used to have a real job getting her to come home with us because she always wanted to sleep over with her Aunt Macey and Uncle Eli so she could continue to hang out with Michael and Edward.”
    Clare reached her hand across the table and placed it over Crank’s . “You’re an amazing man Crank, you know that. I would have probably lost the plot if I had lost my whole family in an accident. But not you, you’ve got such a big heart.”
    Crank turned his attention back to Clare. “ Clare,