Chapter 4 #2
“He’s an adult. He’s not worried about either one of you,” Lucas said.
“What are the two of you doing in here when you’re supposed to be learning how to cook?” Anahla asked, walking up behind her two daughters and laying a hand on both before turning them back toward the kitchen.
Lucas melted the moment his eyes met Anahla’s.
She smiled at him and blew a kiss before returning her hand to her daughter’s shoulders.
Lucas blew one back.
Lucas turned back to Riley as Anahla took their daughters back to the kitchen. “What was I saying, oh, yeah, it’s not even 7:00.”
“Can I just say I get a kick out of the way you two still love each other like that. That’s what I want for Cristie. That’s why I granted sanctuary to Remi. I want her to have what we all have. And it’s still after 5:30. The hospital closes at 5:30,” Riley said.
The front door opened and Cristie walked in, closing the door behind her, which was interesting and encouraging because she didn’t slam the door.
“Hey, baby,” Riley said. “How was your day?”
Cristie hesitated, then simply painted on her dealing with people she didn’t know smile. “Fine.”
“Hey, girl. That Kaiser out there?” Lucas asked.
“It is. He’s not coming in because he’s got Buster Bee in the car and T2 hates Buster Bee, so they’re waiting in the car. I have to change,” she said as she started for the stairs.
“That dog is still alive?” Lucas asked.
“And he’s obese now, so I put him on a diet dog food,” she said as she climbed up the steps.
“I thought he was obese when he was a puppy,” Lucas whispered.
“Where y’all going?” Riley called after her.
“Out,” she said, her voice sharp, but not quite sharp enough for her father to decide she should be called to task.
Riley dramatically lowered one eye and shook his head as he rolled his eyes and blew out an exaggerated breath.
“Hey, she answered you. She could have pretended she didn’t hear. That’s Tia’s thing lately, ‘What? I didn’t hear you!’. Like she’s not a freaking Bear and damn fire bender, too. Knows she heard every damn word I said and still tries to pull it off.”
Riley chuckled. “Keegan doing the same?”
“No, she’s smart enough to know there’s no way I’d believe that shit. She just glances my way and says, ‘You know she’s lying, right?’.”
“You’d think she’d cover for her sister,” Riley said.
“Oil and water, Riley. I’m telling you those girls are like oil and water, unless somebody else messes with one of them, then all hell breaks loose when they team up,” Lucas said.
“You know I can hear you, right?” a slightly high-pitched female voice, Tia’s, called from the kitchen.
“Me, too,” a more medium pitched voice that rang clear and steady, Keegan’s, added.
“He knows. And it’s his way of telling you you’re not amusing,” Anahla’s voice could be heard saying to the two girls who’d just spoken.
“How about instead of listening to me and Uncle Riley, you just concentrate on helping Aunt Maia and Mom with dinner?” Lucas called out. He focused on Riley. “Just one son,” he said with a shrug. “Was it too much to ask? I am the only male in a house filled with estrogen.”
“Keegan might have drowned him at birth if you’d had one. She’s as strong as any son you might have had.”
“There is that,” Lucas said, grinning.
“Besides, you know you wouldn’t trade those girls for anything.”
“No, I would not. It’s the teen years; the attitude is killing me.”
Riley laughed. “I remember it well, and hang on, it doesn’t change all that much all of a sudden. It slowly tapers off only to rear its head just when you think you’re all finished with it.”
Footsteps could be heard as the owner of said feet ran nimbly down the steps and toward the living room.
Seconds later Cristie, having shed the scrubs she wore to work every day in favor of her favorite pair of jeans and boots with a deep brown Henley, and her hair pulled free of her ponytail holder, came to a stop at the foot of the stairs.
She checked her purse to make sure she had everything she needed, then turned to look over her shoulder as she heard her mother approaching.
“Don’t you look cute,” Maia said.
“Thanks,” Cristie answered.
“Where you going?” Maia asked.
“Going to eat with Kaiser. He got in this morning and brought Buster Bee to get checked out.”
“That dog’s got to be twenty by now,” Maia said.
“Not quite, but he’s close,” Cristie said. “They’re waiting in the car because T2 tries to kill Buster every time they come inside.”
“T2 tries to kill anything that’s even slightly intimidated by him. He’s a bossy old cat. Not as bossy as Trouble was, though.”
“But I love him,” both Cristie and Maia said at the same time T2, as though summoned by the mention of his name, streaked through the open foyer between the front door, the living room, and the stairwell hissing at everyone as he went.
Maia laughed. “Proof he’s a ghost. We said his name and there he is.”
“He’s a sweet kitty,” Cristie said in a playful tone.
“Yeah, okay,” Maia said. “But, listen, y’all be careful, and call if you’re going to be late.”
“Mom…”
“I know you’re old enough to do what you want to do, any time you want to do it, but I can either put you on Life360 like I did with Bastian, or you can do the responsible thing and let me know if you’re going to be really late, or even stay out all night.
I’m not saying you can’t do whatever you want to do, I’m just saying let me know you’re alive and still out by choice so I don’t worry. ”
“Alright. I have no clue at this moment, but I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you. Love you, my sweet girl.”
“Love you, too,” Cristie said.
“I’ll save you a piece of the apple pie for whenever you get home,” Maia said.
“A big one,” Cristie said as she hugged her mother quickly, then moved toward the door.
“Y’all have fun, baby!” Riley said.
Cristie made no reply.
“Tell Kaiser to come say hi soon,” Lucas said.
“I will, Uncle Lucas,” Cristie answered just before the door closed behind her.
Riley shook his head, his lips pursed as he did his best not to react.
“I look forward to seeing Kaiser. It’s been a few months,” Maia said.
“Me, too. He’s a good kid,” Lucas said.
“She intentionally ignored me,” Riley said.
Maia looked over at her mate from her place by the door where she looked through the peephole at Kaiser’s car as Cristie got in. “She didn’t ignore me.”
“Or me,” Lucas added.
“Well, maybe she’s not mad at the two of you. She’s obviously mad at me.”
“She answered you when she first came in,” Lucas said.
“One word answers,” Riley said.
“Hey, they were answers,” Lucas said.
“She’ll get over it. And she’ll feel better after she blows off some steam with Kaiser. I’m glad he’s here, they’re buddies,” Maia said.
“Hopefully,” Riley agreed.
“Did Remi pick a trailer yet?” Maia asked.
“They got busy at the restaurant today, but Richie was going to show them to him tonight and let him pick one,” Riley said.
“I haven’t met him yet. I’ll go introduce myself later,” Lucas said.
“Maybe we can have a Sunday dinner this week and give him a formal welcome,” Maia said.
“You’re just trying to get me in more trouble with my daughter, aren’t you?” Riley asked.
“Hey, you gave him sanctuary. And I’m supporting you in public, but you know I believe you should have asked her first,” Maia said.
“That’s only because your father didn’t ask you first,” Riley said. “Otherwise you’d agree with me.”
“Exactly!” Maia said dramatically.
“But it worked, didn’t it?” Riley demanded.
“It did. But it wasn’t fun for a while prior to that, was it? I remember feeling cornered,” Maia said.
“Maia?! Is the bacon on top of the meatloaves supposed to be turning black?!” Anahla called from the kitchen.
Maia made a face and ran toward the kitchen to save her meatloaves.
Lucas shook his head when Riley grinned at him. “I love my female heart and soul, and the few things she can cook are delicious, but cooking is not her forte’.”
“I heard that!” Anahla shouted.
“I knew you would,” Lucas answered.
~~~
Richie unlocked the door of one of the guest trailers they kept available for anyone who was visiting and needed a place to stay.
“The ones in the back on the rise are taken in both sections. The one anchoring this section is Lucas and Anahla’s.
This one, in front of Lucas to the left used to be Roman’s, but it’s available now.
In front of Lucas to the right and directly across from this one is Lazarus and Alex.
My mom and Moe are in the one in front of Lazarus and Alex.
I’m across from them and in front of this one.
Both mobile homes at the very front of the park, facing the highway are available, the one in front of me and the one in front of my mother.
In the section next to this one over there,” he said, pointing to the left, “Roman and Talie’s is on the rise at the back.
Sheryl is in the one right in front of them on the left.
The one across from her and in front of Roman to the right is available.
But the one in front of that is Darcie’s.
She’s Roman and Talie’s daughter, and while she’s not here full time, she’s claimed that one and stays in it when she is here.
All the others in that section are all available.
We use all the available ones in both sections for guests, but it’s not often.
We keep up the maintenance on them, and clean them regularly, and they’re all in good shape.
There are some double-wides and there are some single-wides.
All are nice inside or Riley wouldn’t have bought them.
There are subtle differences, colors or arches inside versus actual doors and things like that, but not enough to really make one stand out over another. ”
Remi looked around the trailer and took note of the new appliances and the cleanliness of the place.
He walked down the hallway and looked inside the bathroom to be sure the shower would accommodate him — he was tall.
Then he turned and looked at Richie. So the two at the entrance of this section are available? ”
“They are.”
“I want the one on the right, closest to being across from Riley’s place. That would put me in front of your mother, and give me a view of the store and restaurant while still being near the animal hospital, right?”
Richie smiled to himself, knowing it was the best choice to keeping an eye on Cristie from a distance. “It would. And good choice. You’ll kind of be a sentry, watching over the park, Riley’s and everything else. Since you’re a Dragon it’ll give everybody a little extra bit of security.”
“Thanks, I like that responsibility.”
“Yeah, plus from the position of that home, looking over at Riley’s, there are no trees to block your view from that angle. You can see straight up to the house.”
Remi looked over at Richie quickly.
“It’s the one I’d take if I was keeping watch over my mate and didn’t want her to know I was keeping watch. You can see her house and the store from the front windows and your porch, and her place of employment from the back bedroom window, too, I think.”
Remi held Richie’s gaze for a few seconds before he gave him a single nod.
“Let’s call it done then. Go get your car and I’ll meet you in front of your house. You can park in front or behind.”
“I think I’ll park behind.”
“Thought you might.”