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“Moms.” He glared at her.
She glared right back. “Why don’t you introduce Willa and Rosie, hmm?”
I kept my face as neutral as possible. “Rosie and I have met a few times at the stadium. Where is she?”
“Stuffing her face.” Megan waved to the booth closest to the deli counter.
Sure enough Rosie had a fork in one hand and a mouth full of cinnamon roll, the fork already waiting with another bite as soon as she could cram it in. Isaac sat beside her watching us closely.
So I left Everett and slid into the booth beside Rosie. “I found a really cool shell.” I pulled it from my pocket and placed it on the table.
Her eyes rounded. “That’s a really nice one! Look Daddy. It’s barely worn at all!”
“I loved the colors. They’re so vivid.” Rosie was right, most of the others I came across were broken or very worn from the sand and waves. This one was almost pristine.
“That’s a nice one. Why don’t you work your Rosie magic on it today?” Isaac suggested.
“Oh, what’s the Rosie magic?” I ignored Everett coming to sit beside Isaac. I also ignored Megan’s sad nod of apology for sending me away that time I came to see Everett. I ignored everyone but the adorable girl beside me. It seemed like the safest possible option.
But Rosie wasn’t feeling talkative. She squinted her eyes and said, “You’ll see it when you see it. If you ever get to see it.” Then she shoved another forkful of cinnamon deliciousness into her mouth.
Isaac barked out a laugh. “I’m sorry, she’s moody today. Apparently she, and I quote, ‘Sleeps in enough strange beds all year long.’ She refused to sleep anywhere but her bed at the house. We got in a little late for her sleep schedule.” He yawned before taking another drag from his mug of coffee. “And mine.”
“Coffee?” Megan asked as she set two empty mugs on the table along with a tray that contained a carafe, creamer, and sugar.
“I’d love some. Thank you. The inn wasn’t exactly ready for guests. I really appreciate the emergency morning extraction, Mr. Anson.”
Everett poured out the coffee, shoving the creamer my way.
“Please call me John. We’re all adults.” He grinned at Rosie, who was too busy with her food to care about the joke. “It gave me a good excuse to get on the water this morning. I love the wind and salt water first thing, but Megan usually needs help around here.”
“Well, then I’ll quit making your favorite breakfast.” She grinned at him as she passed him with two plates that she placed in front of Everett and me.
John frowned. “I’m just saying there has to be a compromise. Breakfast and morning with nature. We live in paradise, Megan.”
I tucked into the food before my stomach started making disturbing noises but enjoyed the banter. I didn’t have siblings or aunts and uncles. I didn’t have cousins…or a mother. This might be a totally normal situation for a lot of people, but for me it was special.
“You okay?” Ev nudged my foot with his.
“You’re lucky,” I said simply.
He stared for another beat, then dug into his own food, a look in his eyes that said this conversation was far from over.
But he didn’t press while we were with his family. He let me have my space all while keeping me close. When Rosie was done with her food he challenged her to an epic game of tic-tac-toe. Rosie won naturally, but not before Everett nearly crushed her. Megan and John snuck kisses behind the deli counter. The brothers teased each other.
“So how did you get stuck on Flamingo Island again?” Isaac asked a little too casually as he colored an anime character in a coloring book while Rosie drew a detailed flower.
“It’s actually my fault.”
Everett rolled his eyes. “You didn’t send the boat off without us.”
“No. But I am the one that suggested we eat at The Fighting Conch for dinner. If we just stayed at the resort none of this would have happened.”
Rosie’s nose scrunched up. “The Fighting Conch? Is that the restaurant on the pirate island?”
“That’s the one,” Everett replied. “Why?”
She shrugged. “The coconut shrimp were really good but the tables were sticky and there were way too many pirate flags.”
