out with breakfast this morning. We had waffles, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, and the eggs Reagan had just finished.
Marcus started serving - first Reagan and then himself - before he passed the plate of waffles around. I decided to take my cue from Marcus and serve Sierra before I served myself. She smiled and even blushed a little at the attention.
When the fruit bowl came around, I stirred it up and shook my head rather than asking her if she would like some. Sierra smiled brightly and passed the bowl over to the girls who were still watching our every move.
“Why didn’t you give my mom any? She loves fruit,” Lexi asked with her head tilted and her eyes calculating.
“She’s allergic to raspberries,” I reminded her with a smile. “She can’t eat the fruit today.”
“Oh, I had no idea!” Reagan said from his end of the table. “I’m so sorry! I’ve got some melon left in the kitchen if you’d like to have that.”
“Yes, please,” Sierra smiled.
Reagan started to get up, but I waved him off. “I’ll grab it.”
When I walked back in with the bowl for Sierra, the girls were grinning ear to ear. They started whispering to each other and Marcus cleared his throat.
“When do you work next, Sierra?” Reagan asked.
“Last night was the soft opening and our official open date is this coming Saturday. Maria was happy with the way it went and wants to make a few changes to the seating area along with adding some more flavors of soda. She’s also getting ready to stock the bar and hire a bartender since her liquor license should be valid by then.”
“So, you have a week off?” Marcus asked. “That sounds like just the right amount of time for what you need to do.”
“Is it?” I asked him. Marcus nodded and I glanced over at Sierra just in time to see a smile cross her face.
“I’ve got that paperwork drawn up that you asked for and my brother and his wife will be here within the hour so they can act as witnesses when you sign.”
“Can I talk to you alone for a minute before we get to that?” Sierra asked Marcus shyly.
“Of course,” he nodded.
“Reagan, will you come in there while I talk to Marcus?”
“Sure,” Reagan said, his face concerned.
“It’s nothing major, I just want to see if Marcus could add a certain stipulation to the paperwork.”
“What paperwork?” Leia asked.
“Mind your own,” I said softly to my daughter and she quickly apologized for butting into their conversation. “You three are going to go in there and leave me out here alone with the interrogation squad, aren’t you?”
“Just tell them that you won’t answer any questions without your attorney present.” Marcus laughed.
“I packed some clothes for both of you, so while Reagan and I are in there with Marcus, you can shower and change,” Sierra told our girls.
“And when I get out of there, I’m taking the three of you to the salon for manis and pedis,” Reagan told the girls.
They squealed in delight and I saw Marcus wince at the noise just like I did.
It was hard not to laugh as they shoveled their food into their mouths so they could run upstairs and get ready for their spa time. When they asked in unison if they could be excused from the table, I cringed.
Once they were gone I asked, “Does anyone else find it creepy that they do things in perfect unison?”
Marcus nodded and so did Reagan.
“You think that’s bad,” Sierra laughed. “Wait until they get a little older and their periods sync up.”
◆◆◆
Sierra
“What did you need to talk to me about, Sierra? Are you having second thoughts?” Marcus asked me as soon as the office door shut behind us.
“And 95th and 96th,” I laughed. “No, that’s really not what it is. I would like to see if you could put something extra in the paperwork for Rowdy.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Marcus said as he spun his chair toward his computer monitor. “What is it?”
“I’d like to purchase the land that he’s living on, along with the house, and give it to him free and clear under his name as a wedding gift,” I told the two men. “He said that you had been helping him, Reagan, so can you do this for me? Handling the real estate part?”
“That is so sweet, honey,” Reagan smiled. “He’s wanted that land for years, but his credit just wasn’t solid enough to get a loan that