“Ugh, oatmeal. Really?” Ralen asked as he looked at what Cash was spooning out into bowls.
“Oatmeal is good for you,” Cash told him.
“Says who? The oatmeal people?” Ralen asked. “Because you absolutely cannot believe them.”
“Who are the oatmeal people? Is that some new band?” Monroe asked as she skipped up to them. It amazed Cash how easily she could bounce back. But as she grew closer, he saw how much makeup she had on her face. Was she always dressed up like this, or was she hiding something? And her smile seemed a bit forced.
Maybe she wasn’t bouncing back as well as he’d initially thought.
“No, it’s not a good breakfast,” Ralen told her. “It’s the worst breakfast in the world.”
“It’s hardly the worst breakfast in the world. I’m sure there are far worse breakfasts,” Cash said. Although he had to admit that the oatmeal wasn’t looking all that appetizing right now. It might need a ton of sugar, and maybe some cream.
But that wouldn’t really make it that healthy, would it?
Might be the only way that anyone ate it, though.
“What would be a worse breakfast then?” Ralen asked. “Haggis? They don’t eat haggis for breakfast, right?”
“I’ve never tried haggis, but surely it can’t be that bad,” Monroe said.
Cash turned to stare at her. “Really? Not that bad?”
He didn’t think it sounded that good.
“What about Rocky Mountain oysters?” Cash said. “They’ve got to be worse than oatmeal.”
“Hmm. I guess that’s true,” Ralen replied.
“And kidneys,” Cash added. “Bacon and kidneys fried on toast. There’s no way that oatmeal tastes worse than that.”
“All right, all right.” Ralen held up his hands. “I’ll eat that glop you’ve cooked. Although what is wrong with hashbrowns, fried eggs, and ham? Nothing. Nothing is wrong with that.”
“Not very healthy, though, is it?” Cash said.
“Since when do you care about being healthy?” Ralen asked.
Since he took charge of Addie’s health.
“Well, I’ve decided I’d like to live for another fifty years. Instead of dying of a heart attack when I’m forty-five.”
Probably a bit of an exaggeration . . .
“If it’s a choice between eating oatmeal and living longer, or not eating oatmeal and dying sooner, I know which one I’d choose,” Ralen said.
Cash rolled his eyes at him.
“Oatmeal will be good for Addie’s throat,” Monroe said, giving him a knowing look.
“Right. Yeah, of course,” Ralen said, running his hand over his face. “I didn’t think of that. Sorry.”
“What’s going on?” Dotty asked, joining them.
“Cash made us oatmeal for breakfast,” Monroe said. “Wasn’t that kind?”
“It is. Thanks, Cash.” Dotty sent him a smile.
Cash had to hide his surprise. He wasn’t sure he’d seen her smile since meeting her.
