“Hey, until mine returns from working abroad, I’m taking yours.”
I ignored whatever he muttered and stepped into the kitchen.
“Hey, Carla.”
She turned around, wiped her hands on a cloth, and reached out for a hug. “Hey, sweetheart. I’m glad you could make it. I’m making your favorite.”
“Nice. Thank you. Anything I can do to help?”
“Everything’s in hand. Go join the boys out there.”
“River! Come here. You’ve got to hear this one!” Lex bellowed from the living room.
Carla shook her head. “Whatever argument they use, the answer is no. You have to back me up.”
I laughed. “I got you.”
Adam’s laughter rang out as I slipped through the hallway into the living room.
“Dad wants to get a goat,” he said.
“A goat? What for?”
Lex and Emery were cuddling in one of the armchairs, seemingly staying out of the argument.
“Hear me out,” Jack said, holding his hands up. “The next-door neighbors have a micro pig. They call her Stacey. She’s a terror. Whenever I turn my back on the backyard, she’s there, eating my crops.”
“How is getting a goat going to help? Goats eat everything.”
Jack crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Yeah, and hopefully, they’ll eat Stacey too.”
“Dad!” Lex cried.
“Mom can’t be on board with this,” Adam said.
“That’s where you come in. You have to convince her.”
Adam’s grandma came into the living room. “You’re fighting a losing battle if you think Carla will ever give in on that.”
“Olá, Avó,” Adam said, getting up to greet her.
“Olá, Jacinta,” I said, giving up my seat for her.
She raised her hand. “No need, son. Give it a second and?—”
“Lunch is on the table,” Carla shouted from the kitchen.
“It’s like I have a little magic pinky that knows things.” She winked, wiggling her pinky finger at me.
I hope your pinky finger doesn’t know everything.
I followed everyone toward the kitchen until Adam grabbed my hand. “We’ll be right in, Mom. I want to show River something in my bedroom.”
“You know the rules,” Carla said.
“If you’re going to put your hands down each other’s pants, don’t forget to wash them after,” Lex said.
“Alexis,” their mom scolded.
