Megan came out of the back bedroom, wiping the sleep from her eyes. “Wow, you let me sleep in. Thanks.” She stifled a yawn, her voice thick with sleepiness.
“I got up quiet as a mouse, Momma. Didn’t I, Uncle Connor?”
“Yep, you did.” He’d been up early enjoying a cup of coffee when she came racing out to see him, full of energy.
“Why are mice quiet?” Brooklyn’s forehead crinkled.
“Not sure, Princess. Probably so people won’t know they’re there.” How did she come up with all these questions?
Megan walked over to the coffeepot and poured herself a cup, leaning against the counter. “So, what are the plans for today? You know, after I get some coffee in me and feel a bit more human.”
“I want breakfast.” Brooklyn set her hands on her hips. “I think I’m gonna starve if I don’t get food soon.”
He considered her request, glancing around the kitchen. “I’ve got some cereal in the pantry. Or toast?” He wasn’t exactlysure what he had. He’d planned to go shopping with Megan today to buy all the kid-friendly food needed for their weekend stay. He wasn’t exactly certain what Brooklyn liked to eat these days. Seemed like it was always changing. He’d stocked up on strawberries for their last visit—her favorite, he was certain—and she refused to even take a bite of them.
“Let’s go out to eat breakfast like big people do.”
“I could make pancakes,” Megan offered, peeking into the fridge. “Except that Uncle Connor doesn’t have any eggs.”
“Hey, I thought we’d go grocery shop this morning. Get things Brooklyn likes. And I don’t have pancake mix either.”
“No strawberries,” Brooklyn insisted.
“Right, got that, kiddo.”
“We could go out to breakfast. That’s a good idea. Then we’ll go to the market afterward.” Megan took her last sip of her coffee and then set the cup in the sink.
“Or we could go to the market and then come back here and cook breakfast.” He tried to counter them both, already sensing a losing battle.
“I’d starve by then.” Brooklyn frowned at him, shaking her head, her curls bouncing wildly.
“Okay, okay.” He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Out for breakfast, it is.” He could never refuse a thing his niece asked for.
Megan grinned, amusement flickering in her eyes. “No use fighting it, is there?”
“We’re going to walk though.” He hoped that might use up some of Brooklyn’s endless energy.
“I like walking.” Brooklyn bobbed her head. “We can walk everywhere here. It’s fun. Not like at home where we have to get in Momma’s car to go anywhere.”
They headed out into the sunshine and crossed over to the boardwalk, the fresh sea breeze tousling Brooklyn’s curls thisway and that. She skipped ahead, then turned and raced back toward them. “Let’s eat there.” She flung out her arm, pointing to a nearby building. “The one with the coffee cup sign. Momma needs her coffee. She always tells me that.”
“Is it a good place for breakfast?” Megan tilted her head, questioning him.
“Never been,” he said flatly.
“Really? It’s not like there are many places to choose from here on the island.”
“I don’t eat out.”
Megan rolled her eyes. “Of course, you don’t. You might—you know—see a person or two or something.”
He glared at her. “I’m perfectly fine eating at home. I prefer it.”
“You gotta get out more, brother dear. See what’s happening around you.”
“Yep, Momma says you spend too much time in your workshop and not enough out in the world.” Brooklyn skipped again, twirled, and turned around. “Did you know the world was round?”
“I’ve heard that,” he chuckled.
