Garrett
Mornings at the Svensson estate were chaotic. My two dozen youngest brothers acted like a pack of wild dogs, fighting for food and squabbling. Josie used to cook, then Archer’s girlfriend, Hazel, had taken over. I’d had to put the kibosh on that, because the two women had more important things to do than make meals for thirty-odd people three times a day.
Now we rotated. It was Remy’s turn for breakfast today.
"Breakfast burrito?" he offered. "It’s steak, hash browns, eggs, and cheddar."
I took it from him wordlessly.
Remy bent down. Davy was plastered to my leg.
"I have a mini burrito just for you."
I sat Davy down by Billy and Oscar and the rest of my youngest brothers so I could read the paper in peace. Davy's lower lip started trembling. I swiftly picked him back up. I had had to listen to him shriek for hours the previous night, and I did not want to repeat the experience. Davy sat on my lap and munched on his mini burrito while I tried to read the local paper. It was all about the Halloween fair and theMacbethplay the community center was putting on.
"They’re still looking for volunteers," Archer said. "Can’t you do community service to get your license back sooner?"
"I would rather pay the fine," I growled.
"But then you'd have to wait," Mace said. He and Archer were identical twins, which meant I held them both in identical contempt.
Before I could say anything, Davy tried to climb down from my lap, almost squeezing his burrito out over my suit.
"Davy, you and I are going to have to come to some sort of agreement," I told him in a low voice. "You’re ruining my image."
"Come here, Davy," Archer said, reaching over to try and grab him. Davy shrank back.
"He only wants Garrett," Mace said with a laugh.
"I don’t know why," Archer grumbled. "He's the least good-looking."
* * *
Davy was tooyoung to go to school with the rest of my younger brothers. Fortunately, I had had the foresight to insist that one of the amenities offered at Svensson PharmaTech be a day care. Davy did not appreciate it. He screamed as soon as I handed him to Donna, one of the day care workers.
"He’ll stop eventually," Donna said, patting Davy on the back softly.
His screaming was giving me a headache. Had I still possessed my driver's license, I would have picked up cold-brew iced coffee on my way to the office. That sure would have eased the tension in my forehead right now.
"You need another assistant, Mace," I snapped at my brother. Ever since the situation with his last assistant had gone south, my older brother had become gun-shy. He was the CEO, and his office suite included a room for an assistant. Archer had recently moved his things into it.
"I need coffee," I told him.
"I can’t drive you," he replied.
It was irksome to have to rely on my brothers. Curse Hunter and the cell phone law.
"Also, I don’t know how you’re going to drink it with the straw ban," Mace added.
I fumed. "What are you doing that is so important?"
"We have the temp coming in."
"Excuse me?"
Mace gave me a mild look. "She’s going to help with the accounts."
"I don’t need help."
