Brody - Ellie Masters Page 0,92
is happy.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because you’re here.”
“Okay, outside of my mother’s hopes of me hooking up with Grace, how can you be sure?”
“Luv, you can never be sure of anything, and I’m not interested in you hooking up with Grace. I’m waiting for the white dress, the wedding, and the grandbabies.”
“Grandbabies! Getting a bit ahead of yourself there.”
“A mom can dream. Someday, you’ll all fall in line and give me the grandbabies I deserve after having to put up with raising your obnoxious selves.”
“Gee, thanks.” I don’t blame her for the comment. The three of us were hellions growing up.
“As far as Grace goes, don’t worry. Lucy wasn’t ready to take over the reins of this business when she did, but she’s never regretted it. This is her life, and Grace’s too. This is Grace’s home, her passion.”
“You sure it’s not Mrs. Atwood’s passion that Grace is getting stuck with?”
“Lucy would never do that to her daughter, and don’t listen to Mark. That boy doesn’t have a head for business. Lucy was always complaining about having to follow up behind him.”
“I thought they were a great team.”
“They’re siblings, but stepsiblings. There’s always friction between siblings, more so with stepsiblings, especially when one’s the boss and the other’s not. And it’s nothing much, just comments here and there. Mark’s been trying to get Lucy to sell out to him for years. She never would, because this place is the one thing she wanted to give to her daughter. The land has been passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Grace belongs here. Granted, it wasn’t supposed to be this soon, but this place is more than a profit and loss balance sheet to them.”
“Them?”
“Lucy and Grace. It’s a mother-daughter thing. You wouldn’t understand.”
“And you do? You don’t have any daughters.”
“You’re right; I have three very obnoxious, hard-headed boys who each need a strong woman in their life to keep them in line. I’m not going to be around forever, you know.”
I wrap my arm around my mother and kiss the top of her head. “You’re not allowed to leave us. At least not until you surrender your pancake recipe.”
She shoves me away, laughing. “I’ll make you a deal.”
“A deal? You’re giving me the recipe?”
“The first one who gives me grandbabies will get the recipe.”
“Now you’re playing dirty.”
“Am I?” Her eyes twinkle, and her attention shifts to the door. “Asher and Evie are getting married soon. He’s always been first you know…”
A low growl builds in the back of my throat.
“But I’m your favorite.”
“My favorite will be the one who gives me grandbabies. You boys are waiting far too long to settle down and carry forward our family’s name.”
“You’re insufferable.”
“Perhaps.” She lifts the finished bowl of batter. “But my pancakes are amazing. You done with the bacon?”
That’s one piece of her pancake recipe I’ve got down. She cooks her pancakes in the bacon grease.
“They’re done.”
“Then step aside.” My mother legit hip checks me, pushing me out of the way and shooing me out of the kitchen. I’d go in to check on Grace, but there’s a knock on the front door.
When I open it, Asher and Cage grin like two damn fools. Cage’s camera dangles around his neck like he’s ready for a photo shoot. The triplet curse strikes again because Cage wears a black and yellow shirt identical to the black and green one I have on. We both roll our eyes while Asher grins. He’s got his red and black flannel shirt on too.
“There’s a rumor Mom’s making pancakes.” Cage rubs his palms together and lifts his nose, sniffing the air. The smell of bacon curls in the air, as does the very beginnings of Mom’s famous batter becoming the best pancakes on the planet.
I step outside and close the door behind me. “She’s making pancakes for Grace and Mark. Lucy’s dying.”
“We know.” Cage bows his head. “Mom told us, but pancakes!”
“This is honestly the worst possible time for the two of you to crash a pancake breakfast.”
“That’s not really why we’re here.” Asher drags the toe of his boot over the wooden planks of the porch. He pulls at the back of his neck. It’s a nervous habit we all share.
“Then, why are you here?” I block the door, determined not to let my obnoxious brothers inside where they will only cause mayhem, destruction, and chaos. Grace doesn’t need that kind of shit right now.
Cage lifts up the camera. “Asher was telling me about rebranding Atwood