“Nothing else? Crazy. I could have sworn I tasted cinnamon.”
Harper picked up the jar of almond butter and looked at it. “That’s because this is cinnamon almond butter.”
“Cool, cool.”
Frankie put the plate with the other two slices in front of her sister. “Here, eat this. I’ll make more for myself.”
“Thanks.” Harper immediately went to work eating.
“More what?” Willa asked as she came down the steps. She suddenly grinned, all sleepiness gone. “Hey, Jack. I didn’t know you were having breakfast with us this morning.”
“Teacher Willa.” Jack smiled back at her. “I sort of barged in and took over, man. But your mom and aunt are being super chill about it.”
“Cool.” She looked at the toast he and Harper were eating. “Can I get some of that?”
“Sure,” Frankie said. She had to make some for herself anyway. She put four more slices into the toaster and got it started.
Willa sat next to Jack. “Can I have some coffee, too?”
Frankie gave her daughter a look.
“Please,” Willa added.
With an amused sigh, Frankie got her a cup.
Harper finished one piece of toast and picked up her plate. “I’m taking this in with me. I have to get ready.” She went toward the bedroom.
“Where’s she going?” Willa asked as she tipped the creamer into her cup.
“Mitch’s,” Frankie answered.
“Hey, how was that chocolate chip banana bread? Outrageous, right?” Jack said. “That Joyce, she’s something else.”
Willa nodded. “Did you see her and Beryl on Lucas’s show? They were so funny! Not sure they meant to be, but I could binge about twenty episodes of them before I even thought about watching something else.”
“I did see it,” Jack said. “I’ve watched it twice, actually.”
The toast popped up. Frankie had plates ready. She took the slices out and slathered them with almond butter. “The boats are gone.”
“No, they’re not,” Willa said. “I looked before I came down.”
Jack sighed. “That didn’t last long.”
Frankie added the honey. “I guess it was just a temporary reprieve. Sorry, Jack.”
He raked his hand through his hair. “It’s getting old, man. Real old.”
She gave a plate to Willa before picking up a piece off her own plate and having a bite. It was good. Simple and easy and hopefully a little healthier than the banana bread they’d devoured last night.
Harper came back out in shorts, a T-shirt, and flipflops. Her phone was in one hand, her toast plate in the other. She put the plate in the sink. “I shouldn’t be gone for more than an hour or so. Archie had a nice long walk and time at the dog park this morning, so he should be fine until I get back.”
Willa picked up her coffee cup. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”
“Thanks. You want to go to the beach this afternoon? Or earlier maybe, like when I get back?”
“Yeah, totally,” Willa said.
“I might invite Prisha, too.”
