“No, that’s okay,” I rushed to say. “We found a lovely hotel down by the water and it’ll give me a chance to show Cameron the city.”
“Translation: they want to have sex,” Sinclair sassed.
“Sin!” I squeaked.
“What?” she asked innocently. “You’re engaged now. Obviously, you’re doing the deed.”
“Sinclair Ruth St. Marks, that is highly inappropriate,” Mom admonished.
“Just speaking the truth. If you didn’t insist on us all sleeping in separate bedrooms until we were married, we might be willing to stay here with our significant others.”
“Stop poking the bear,” I hissed.
“Maybe if you promise to be super quiet—”
I found the closest thing to me and threw it at her head.
It was an apple and my aim was true.
“Ow!” she squealed as the fruit hit her square in the middle of her forehead.
“Well, that’s going to leave a mark,” Mom said, then smiled. “Next time, you’ll duck.”
“Mom!” Sinclair cried. “She could have given me a concussion.”
“Oh, pish. The apple was starting to soften. I was either going to use it for a pie or chuck it, so no chance of that, darling.” She handed Sinclair a platter of ham. “Take this to the table, please.”
“Can I get an icepack or an aspirin, or something maybe?”
“I don’t know,canyou?”
“Oh my…mayI get an ice pack and an ibuprofen?”
“Once you take the meat to the table, absolutely.”
“I want proof I’m not adopted.Hardproof.”
“Oh, my darling girl, you’re always so dramatic,” Mom said.
“I was assaulted with an apple!” she squealed. “I was affruited.”
“Take that to the table and I’ll get you an ice pack.”
“Oh, sure, the baby never gets in trouble. Once again, Sinclair takes the brunt of all of it,” she grumbled, stomping her way out of the kitchen.
Mom and I looked at each other and burst out into girlish giggles, eliciting a, “I hear you!” from Sinclair in the other room.
It just made us laugh harder.
Once we’d calmed ourselves, Mom handed me the tureen of lobster bisque, my absolute favorite meal on the planet, and I walked it out to the table.
“Brothers,” I called. “Mom needs help.”
The four of them rose to their feet in tandem and headed into the kitchen, while I joined Sinclair outside of the den.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
“Eavesdropping, duh.”
