Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 129951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
On his way to the drinks cabinet, Fitzy’s eyes went to the ceiling, but he was smiling.
Battle grunted disapprovingly.
“Blurgh! Tempie!” Chassie cried.
At that, I saw Battle’s body jerk in his chair, and I looked at him to see his eyes narrowed on his sister.
Yeah.
There it was.
“Stop doing that,” Prue ordered Tempie. “It probably makes Battie and Vivi really uncomfortable. I know it does me.”
“That is the point, dear,” Tempie replied blithely as she floated her long, lean body down to sit in the sofa opposite Prue and Chassie.
“There’s martini in the shaker, Fitzy,” Battle called. “That was also Vivienne’s selection for this evening.”
“Excuse me, I do not do watered down vodka,” Tempie replied.
“It’s been in the shaker maybe five minutes,” Battle told her.
“That’ll be acceptable, Fitzy,” Tempie said to the butler.
As he poured, he called, “Miss Vivi, if you don’t mind, Patsy was hoping you’d pop down and let her know what you want brought in for the weekend. She’s sending Harry to the market tomorrow. We’re off early to visit the youngest for a couple days.” He grinned madly. “We have a new grandson.”
Yes, I’d asked Tempie if it was okay.
And yes, I’d told Patsy she didn’t have to cook dinner for the throng when Emily was away.
So yes, she took me up on it.
No shade on being served delicious cocktails and meals at home. Especially no shade on not having to do dishes.
But getting to cook a couple of nights a week for people I loved so did not suck for me.
“Oo, do you have baby photos?” I asked Fitzy.
He offered the martini on his tray to Tempie, she took it, then he dug his phone out of his inside jacket pocket, engaged it, slid his finger on the screen and offered it to me.
“You can scroll for probably fifteen pictures. They’re all of our new little bundle,” Fitzy said.
“Good goodness, Granddad, he’s the perfect child,” I said while scrolling. Then I looked up at him, “Outside my nephew and niece, Matty and Rayray, of course.”
Fitzy smiled at me. “Of course.”
“And I’ll dash down now to give Patsy a grocery list.” I turned to the group. “What do we say for Sunday? Tacos?”
Prue clapped. “I adore tacos.”
I looked at Battle. “Honey?”
“I don’t think there’s a human on the planet who would turn down tacos,” he replied.
Oh so very fond of this guy.
“Erm, that human would be me,” Tempie said.
Battle scowled at her.
“How about a taco salad?” I suggested.
“Don’t make special food for Tempie. She eats what we all eat,” Battle decreed.
“It’s all the same ingredients, honey,” I told him. “It’ll take me thirty seconds.”
“Mm,” was his only reply.
“The concept of a…taco salad”—Tempie saying those last two words like she would say wearing flats nearly had me cracking up—“intrigues me.”
“Taco salad for you it is,” I decided. “And maybe my rosemary roast garlic chicken on Monday?” I suggested to the girls, then to Battle, “Or I could do that on Sunday. Proper Sunday roast, with Yorkshire puds, sprouts and gravy.”
Prue clapped again. “Oh, let’s do a Sunday roast.”
“As long as you make your tacos for me at a later date,” Battle put in.
“Perfect,” I said, sipped my martini, set it aside and got up, telling Fitzy as I returned his phone, “I’ll pop down now so it isn’t left too late.”
“Thank you, Miss Vivi. The missus is in her office.”
I grinned at him, and on my way down to Patsy’s office, I made a mental grocery list, adding to it the puds I also was going to make.
I met Patsy in her office, wrote it all down and headed back up.
As I walked back into the plum parlor, Chassie was saying, “Capri has beaches.”
“Switzerland, though, is so gorgeous. I’ve always wanted to go,” Prue replied.
I didn’t know what they were talking about.
I did know that when I sat down, Battle grabbed my hand in a punishing grip, which made me start to pay extra close attention.
“Capri is gorgeous too,” Chassie said.
“My skin and the sun don’t mix,” Prue returned.
“Maybe we should go to Ravenna and ask her where we should holiday,” Chassie suggested.
My heart stuttered.
Holiday?
Those two were discussing where to vacation?
Now it was me who was holding Battle’s hand in a punishing grip.
“Oh! Let’s!” Prue agreed. “The cards will tell us where to go.”
Crap.
Was I going to burst into tears?
Stupidly, I looked to Battle to see him studying the G&T he had resting on his knee, but a muscle was working up his cheek as he fought to keep his own emotion in check.
That far from helped me in controlling my tears.
In the end, I just kept hold of his hand, even when I retrieved my drink.
I took a healthy sip.
Chassie’s attention drifted to us holding hands, and she smiled brightly.
Battle’s fingers pumped mine.
Mine pumped back.
“You two are so cute,” Chassie said.