When I made my way downstairs, I stopped just before I could see into the kitchen. I could do this. I could be professional and act as if nothing weird was going on. I was here for a job. Taking a deep breath, I rounded the corner.
“Good morning, Ben,” Lake said brightly. “I hope you slept well.”
“I did, thank you.” I couldn’t help but to smile back.
“Coffee?” he asked, already turning from the stove toward the fancy coffee maker I knew would take me a while to figure out.
“Yes, please. A latte would be nice.”
“One latte coming right up!” Lake started on the coffee while Rey sidled up to him and made sure the omelet wouldn’t burn.
River was nowhere to be seen, but by the time we sat down around the table, he materialized from somewhere and got himself a drink, too.
Since Rey had fixed him a plate, he came to sit across from me but kept eye contact to a minimum. I wasn’t sure how it made me feel, so I was glad when Lake wanted to chat.
“So, I think Seb is coming soon to check on the kittens and the other newbies,” Lake said when he was finished with his meal. “River, are you going to the clinic today?”
As I glanced to River, I saw him looking awkward. “Uh, yeah. Dr. Cobb wants to go over stuff with me before he makes the decision if he wants to hire me. It’s not anything about me, I guess it’s more about how he runs the business and stuff. I should know if I’m hired by the end of the day.”
“If you are, what kind of cake do you want?” Rey asked, looking excited by the idea of baking.
“Lemon blueberry,” River said. “But don’t start baking before I tell you I got it, okay?”
Rey and Lake exchanged a mischievous look.
River saw it and groaned. “Okay, whatever. Bake if you want. I just…”
“Don’t want to jinx it,” I said quietly. “I get that.” I couldn’t help my blush that came out of nowhere. “You always liked blueberries.”
River looked taken aback, and Lake continued hastily, “And Ben and I are going to start on the book stuff.” He turned to Rey, “River will be gone all day, so we’ll handle dinner, but for lunch, whoever gets there first?”
The kid nodded quickly. “Sure, I can handle that. All I have on is hanging out and feeding the kittens and Seb’s visit.”
Lake nodded. “Okay, sounds good.”
River glanced at his phone, likely to check the time. “I’ll clear these and finish getting ready,” he mumbled.
“Were the kittens loud during the night?” Lake asked Rey.
Rey beamed. “Yeah, a bit. But like, cutely.”
I smiled at that. “I never had pets, so this place is weird and fascinating to me,” I confessed quietly.
“If you want a tour, let me know.” Lake smiled. “We have horses, donkeys, goats, dogs and cats.” Then he frowned. “Am I forgetting anything?”
“I don’t think so?” Rey said thoughtfully. “I really want to go see the barn animals.”
I glanced at Rey but didn’t feel like I should ask what his statement meant.
River left soon after, then Rey went upstairs to feed the kittens. Lake and I were fixing our second coffees for the office when the front door opened and a tall man with a big, worn-out leather bag walked in.
“Morning!” He smiled happily. He shook a small paper bag he was holding in his other hand, and we could hear a little jingling sound. “Presents for the kittens.” Ah, the veterinarian, then.
I nodded to him in greeting, and he smiled to me. I wasn’t bad with mornings, but this guy’s cheer was a bit…much.
Lake smiled. “You’re going to bribe them because you’re about to jab them with needles or something, aren’t you?”
The vet’s eyes widened as he shout-whispered, “Don’t say that out loud, they’ll hear!” Then he grinned and went upstairs.
