“I’ll try the new flavor,” Brady announced, handing the box to Bob who handed it to Travis. “I like pumpkin pie.”
“Brady…” Rachel raised her eyebrows in his direction. She’d been clear about her one-tart rule.
Brady whispered in response, “You said it’s rude not to try something when it’s offered to me.”
Yes, but that was before the dogs ate his burned breakfast.
Rachel made an attempt at the box breathing that April had showed her shortly before she hopped on the plane to Twin Lakes. In for four counts, hold for four counts, out for four counts, hold for four counts. Repeat.
She was on her third round before her blood pressure began to drop back to within a normal range.
“Evelyn and I are heading down to Confluence for the day,” Bob said. “We were thinking you and the boys might enjoy taking the scenic route with us.”
Um…Rachel had a call starting in thirty minutes and she expected it’d take a while. “That’s not possible.”
“We’ll bring the dogs, too,” Evelyn assured, as though that were the problem. She was filling the line of toasters on the countertop with pumpkin pie tarts.
“I’ve got meetings today,” Rachel said. “I was hoping the boys could go swim at the lake or something with the rest of the family.”
“They can come with us,” Bob said. “We’ll have a good time.”
“Travis and Dave can come along, too, and you can have the whole place to yourself.” Evelyn gave Travis a don’t-you-dare look; not subtle at all.
“Nope.” Travis chomped his raspberry tart. “I’ve got an R&D committee meeting at ten. Then a Distribution meeting at two. I’ve got to hop on the conference calls.”
Bob and Evelyn went still.
“You’re meeting with Distribution?” Bob asked.
Evelyn looked like someone had smacked her in the face. “And R&D?”
Does he even know what that means?
Travis finished chewing, looking between his parents and Rachel. “Don’t look so shocked, I’m technically the vice-president of distribution. I get the email reminders.”
Evelyn’s eyes stayed wide. “But you never go to the meetings.”
From what Rachel had heard, he never did anything when it came to work.
“Yeah, well, had some ideas I drew up to run past the team.” He lifted his remaining tart. “Can we not make a big deal about this?”
“What’s an R&D meeting?” Brady asked, looking at Rachel.
“Research and development,” Travis answered, ruffling her son’s hair. “Where they decide what flavors are coming up next.”
“Maybe tell them not to do the pumpkin,” Brady said quietly, the words solemn. “It’s not good.”
“Where’s Dave?” Bob asked, changing the subject but obviously having a silent conversation with Evelyn.
“Probably sleeping.” Travis said around another bite of tart. “He had a late night.”
Evelyn tsked. “Bob, you should go wake your son.”
“I wouldn’t,” Travis said. “When I say he had a late night, he showed up around three this morning. I caught him sneaking in when I took the dogs out.”
Bob didn’t budge. “After I drink my coffee.”
“I guess Dave can stay here, too,” Evelyn said, resigned. “We’ll take the boys with us.”
