by Conn, Claudy
“Sure thing, Mr. Javier.” Grady sat down at the table and placed Max in his lap. Chubby little fingers reached out and grabbed the pancake. Grady quickly snatched it away and tore it into little pieces before placing the plate back in front of him. The boy nibbled, drooled, and mashed the pancake into a million more pieces.
The kid from across the street threw out an idea. “There’s plenty of room at my place. I have two extra bedrooms. Brittany is welcome to one of them. It’s going to be a bit tight in here with another body.”
Annie pointed a menacing finger in Grady’s direction. “That is my baby sister we’re talking about, mister. Exactly what are your intentions?”
Brittany pulled Annie’s finger away from Grady’s face and giggled. “I may be your baby sister, but I’m perfectly capable of making decisions for myself. I’m eighteen. I got this.”
Annie’s eyes narrowed, but she backed off. “Fine, but you are always welcome here.” She leveled a glare at Grady. “I got my eye on you, kid.”
Brittany nudged Annie away and addressed Grady. “I need time to get reacquainted with my sister and her family. I’ll be fine here, even if I have to sleep on the floor.” Terence placed four pancakes in front of her. She grabbed the syrup and poured it over the top. “I also need to find a job. Maybe, when I’m able to pay rent, we’ll readdress being roommates, but for now, this is where I want to be.” She took a bite. The pancakes were fluffy, with a hint of vanilla. The added touch made them extra special. They were without a doubt the best pancakes she ever tasted. “Oh my God! I think my mouth just had an orgasm.” Shocked at the inappropriate words which tumbled out, Brittany’s eyes flew wide and she covered her mouth with her hands.
Everyone stared at her, but not a word was spoken. Terence’s coffee mug was paused in midair. Annie’s head was cocked and her eyes were questioning. Grady’s lips were pressed tightly together as he suppressed a chuckle, and Erika’s mouth hung agape.
The entire household went silent.
Erika finally blinked. “Oh man,” she laughed. “This is going to be fun.”
The rest of the fictitious tension dissipated and everyone broke into smiles. Annie and Terence joined the family at the table. Brittany studied their faces. They weren’t shocked or angry, but she was still remorseful. “Sorry, I’ll try to watch my mouth.”
Erika repeated her previous statement. “Oh man, this is going to be fun.”
Brittany looked to her sister for clarification. “What is she talking about?”
Annie patted her hand. “Sorry. That’s something you’ll have to discover all on your own.”
Terence passed Brittany a bowl of fruit. “Welcome to the family.”
2
IMMEDIATELY AFTER BREAKFAST, Terence went out to purchase an inflatable bed for Brittany to sleep on. Erika took Brittany down to the beach to show her around and meet some of the locals. Grady cleaned up the kitchen while Annie put Max down for his nap.
Just as Grady wiped the crumbs off the counter and into the trash, Annie walked in and sat across from him. No matter how mature the boy tried to act, Terence was right, he was still just a kid. Losing both his parents in a horrible boating accident, only a year ago, left him lost. Grady used to work with Terence on his sideline tourist excursion boat named after Erika, but after the accident, Grady hadn’t been able to go back out on the water. Now he helped Annie with her Jamoka Jack Coffee Cart, but it didn’t pay nearly as well.
“That was sweet of you to offer Brittany a room. It must get lonely over there,” Annie said.
Grady shook off her concern. “I just wanted to show my thanks for everything you and Mr. Javier have done for me.” He leaned across the counter and grinned. “Besides, she’s pretty cute.”
Annie playfully slapped his hand, and her voice turned soft and comforting. “She is cute, but you don’t fool me for a minute. You are a lonely young man and that’s why we see girl after girl doing the walk of shame out your front door almost every morning.” She gripped his hand tight. “But it doesn’t help, does it?”
Grady pulled away and his eyes brimmed with tears. “Don’t get serious on me, Mrs. J. I’ll be fine.”
Mrs. J? Grady never called her that anymore. Annie knew she was pushing too hard, but there were things which needed to be said. “I’d like you to go back to school. If you worked on the Erika Rose, you would be able to afford it.”
Grady shook his head. “I can’t do that.”
She looked into the boy’s eyes and wondered if he would ever truly be fine again. It was difficult, but she let it go. “Just think about it, okay? The Coffee Cart isn’t going to get you ahead.”
Grady wiped a tear off onto his sleeve. “Then why do you do it?”
Annie had been asking herself the same question. At first, it kept her busy. Leaving her thriving design business in San Diego left a hole inside her. She found great contentment here with Terence and Erika, but she wasn’t used to not having anything to do. The Coffee Cart filled that void. With Max’s arrival, life changed, and she found herself busier than she ever wanted to be. She knew she kept the Cart alive to keep Grady afloat and to appease her growing clientele. Grady usually worked the Sunday through Thursday shifts while she took Friday and Saturday.
An idea occurred to her and Annie saw a way out of the Coffee Cart completely. Brittany needed a job. If she was interested, Annie would gladly turn the little business over to her and Grady, and let them run it as they saw fit.
Grady interrupted her thoughts. “I’ve been thinking. Business is really good, but we should expand. The early morning crowds keep asking me to come back and be available later on when they need their ten a.m. pick-me-up. More than that, some of them have been asking to buy into the franchise.” He grabbed Annie’s hand. “Isn’t that an awesome idea, Annie? We could let others do the daily grind while we rake in the cash.”
Annie narrowed her eyes and studied Grady’s face. Maybe the boy was more of a man than she thought. Her mind raced through the numbers as she estimated how much money it would cost to develop a franchise. It was a lot, but she still had a little nest egg left over from the sale of Annie H. Designs. Annie rubbed her chin at the prospect. It would be a huge undertaking, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to take it on with Max so little. She also wanted to have another child someday, but Grady’s idea intrigued her. Larry had Erika’s college fund well in hand. They didn’t have to worry about her, but their own children were another matter. Terence ran two successful businesses. They could probably swing it without her nest egg, and she felt Grady’s idea warranted further investigation.
“I have to be honest with you, Grady,” she said solemnly.
The smile on Grady’s face dropped into a dejected sulk.
“It’s a good idea.” The light turned back on in her young business partner’s eyes. “Before we get ahead of ourselves,” she cautioned, “we need to know exactly what this is going to cost. Let me discuss it with Terence and my lawyer.”
Grady jumped up and moved toward the front door. “Stay right there. I’ll be right back.”
Annie watched him fly out the door and race across the street. Two minutes, later he came running back, with a folder clutched in his hand. He skidded into the kitchen and slapped the folder on the counter.
With one finger, he gently inched it out in front of her. “I already consulted with an attorney and researched it thoroughly. Here is my business proposal.”
Annie was impressed. “You’ve been thinking about this for a while.” She opened the folder and found a professional looking presentation. Spreadsheets were filled with numbers, graphs and projection charts packed the rest of the pages. “Wow!” Annie eased the folder shut. “Why don’t you go down to the beach with the girls and give me time to study this in depth.” She glanced up toward the heavens. “God willing, I’ll have a couple of hours before Max wakes up.”
“Brittany needs a job. Can I tell her about this? We’ll need some help.”
The same thought occurred to Annie, but she needed to slow the boy down. “I know you’re excited.” Her finger tapped the proposal. “You’ve done a tremendous job here, but let’s take this one step at a time. Even if I agree to this, it’s not going to happen overnight.” She touched Grady on the cheek. “Dude, we’ve known each other for years, but have you ever once heard me mention my sister? We haven’t been in contact for quite some time. I think we should get to know her before we bring her into the loop. It’s hard, but please be patient.”
“But Annie,” he countered with a cajoling smile. “She’s really cute.”
• • •
LATER THAT NIGHT, after Max was in bed, Annie sat nervously beside Terence as he lounged against their cushioned headboard, flipping through the pages of Grady’s proposal.
“I thought you wanted less work, not more.” Terence thumbed his way through the report and said seriously. “I’ll support whatever decision you make, but this is a big deal.”
Annie shifted her eyes upward. “It will be more work in the beginning, but eventually, we’ll be able to sit back and let the money roll in.”
Terence had a feeling her mind was already made up. If Annie wanted to do this, then he was behind her all the way. Still, he felt the need to play the devil’s advocate. With the birth of Max, his wife felt she lost all control of her life. She needed something other than motherhood to sustain her, but she also needed her work hours to be more conducive to being a mom. This would be a way to expand something she already created and still work normal business hours. He flipped the folder closed. “Then I think the next step is to consult with Larry and see if what Grady put together is doable.”
The smirk on Annie’s face made him want to chuckle, but he knew better than to let it out.
“I was pretty successful before I gave it up for you,” His wife touted proudly. “I know a thing or two about what it takes to build a business, and I know a good idea when I hear one.”
Terence slipped her hand in his. “I also remember how relieved you were when you sold it. I thought you wanted out of Jamoka Jack. I think you need to slow down and decide what you,” he said, tapping her shoulder lightly, “really want. Grady’s an adult. He has to find his own way.”
Annie flopped back into the pillows and glared at the wall in front of her. A few moments later, she closed her eyes and contemplated his argument.
Terence waited patiently. It was all part of her process, but he suspected the deal was sealed. He turned off the bedside light and pulled her close. “Sleep on it. There’s nothing you can do tonight. We’ll talk again in the morning.”
Annie wiggled her fanny against his pelvis and enticed softly. “I’m sure you have a lawyer-in-law somewhere on the island who wouldn’t mind a little late night consultation.”
The teasing of her bum triggered his ever-present need for her. Terence loved how his body still responded to her smallest touch. “I don’t know about that, but I could use a bit of consulting.”
Annie turned around in his arms and faced him. Her blue eyes were barely visible in the glow of their alarm clock. Her soft lips parted and her tongue pressed gently against his. As nice as the kiss was, it lacked the ardent passion Terence desired. He pulled away. “On second thought, let’s just call it a night. Max will be up in a couple of hours and I’m tired.”
Annie’s teeth tugged on his lower lip. “I love you. Are you sure you want to stop? I’m willing.”
Terence stroked her silky hair. “I’m looking for a little more than just willing, and I don’t think I’m going to get that tonight.” He flipped her around and pulled her back into his chest. “You have a lot on your mind. You just lay here and think while I go to sleep.”
• • •
TERENCE ‘S ARMS WRAPPED Annie in comfort as her mind whirled. If she and Grady decided to become partners and turn Jamoka Jack into a franchise, she wouldn’t have to haul her cart out before the crack of dawn to catch the fishing crowd. She would only have to deal with the office end of the business while Grady did all the heavy lifting.
A soft snore emitted from her hunky husband and she wiggled in just a bit closer. His skin was so warm, she never needed a blanket. Even now, in December, it wasn’t cool enough to pull even the lightest cover over her. Soon the numbers spinning around her head drifted into oblivion and the feel of Terence pressed against her filled her mind. Max was asleep. It was the perfect opportunity to get in a little mommy/daddy time. It had only been a few minutes. Terence couldn’t be that deeply asleep.
She stretched out her leg and let her toes run down the dark skin of her husband’s calf.
Terence stirred.
It wouldn’t take much to get him going now. Annie knew him well. He was always up for a little midnight nookie, especially when she was the aggressor.
“Terence,” she called out softly. “I’ve decided that I’m more than willing.”
His arms tightened around her. “It took you long enough.”
Annie giggled. “You were just pretending to snore?”
Warm breath caressed her neck. “You can’t stand being rejected. You come around to my way of thinking almost every time.”
“Stop talking, love,” Annie cooed. “Your son has a way of knowing exactly when to wake up and demand our attention.”
Terence didn’t hesitate and zeroed in on all her erogenous zones. His lips grazed her bare shoulder and shivers trickled out across her neck. The tip of one finger ran down her spine and Annie was lost. She pressed her buttocks against his groin and a deep moan blew through his lips. Terence was hard and ready to go. Annie was still playing catch up, but she wasn’t far behind.
She rolled onto her stomach and presented her backside up for him to take at will.
Terence followed her movements and came up on his knees behind her. Strong hands gripped her hips and his penis nudged against her womanhood. While the tip of his cock teased her mercilessly, his fingers finished her off completely.
Annie gasped, and Terence slipped inside. The walls of her vagina convulsed around him and he luxuriated in the sensation. After a few moments, he began to move.
As Annie came down from her orgasm, Terence’s began to build. Thrust after thrust, he rocked into her. It was all about him now. Matching his rhythm, she alternated between relaxing the pressure around him and gripping him tight.
His body responded as it always did. The firm hold on her hips tightened. His entire body stiffened, and a few thrusts later, he let loose.
They collapsed back onto the bed, breathless. Terence drew a thin blanket over their moist bodies and spooned her back into his chest. It was their favorite sleeping position. Their love was comfortable and passionate.
The quickie they enjoyed wasn’t the all-encompassing fire they once enjoyed. Parenthood and lack of sleep had temporarily banked that flame, but hot embers rode just under the surface.
Annie wished they had the energy to scratch it, but the clock on the bedside table confirmed the impossibility for the night. It was getting late and Max would be demanding their attention soon.
With a contented, yet reluctant, sigh, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
3
SAND THE COLOR of pink haze stretched out in front of Brittany. Without another soul around, she plopped down to watch the calm waves gently lap against the shore. The sun crested the volcanic mountain range behind her, and the soft morning glow washed out over the Pacific Ocean.
As exhausting as yesterday was, Brittany had not slept well. The decisions she needed to make about her future left her unsettled. The gut wrenching pang of disappointment, knowing her parents must realize she was gone and hadn’t tried to contact her, didn’t help either.
Later on, she wanted to talk to Annie about how she was able to put their parents’ aloofness aside. Brittany wanted to get there fast. The hurt she felt was crushing. One by one, the tears slid down her cheeks.
Brittany pulled her knees t
o her chest and rested her chin on top. She never understood what their problem was. She hadn’t been a bad kid and she worked hard for her dad. He always wanted more, expected more, until Brittany had nothing left to give. The one good aspect about the landscaping business was that Brittany was able to lose herself with the hard manual labor. She beat back a steady stream of demons with the swing of her ax, shovel, and sledgehammer. Even installing and maintaining the intricate drip watering systems, for the drought ridden San Diego County, served to keep her mind off her family troubles.
The problem was that more kept creeping in.
A shadow passed over her and Brittany quickly wiped her face on the bottom of her oversized t-shirt.
With a thud, Grady dropped down alongside her. “I love this view. It never gets old.”
Wanting to appear as normal as possible, Brittany reached out her leg and grazed the top of Grady’s foot with her fifth little piggy. “I thought you had to work the Coffee Cart this morning.”
“Annie called me a little while ago and told me she wanted to take the shift. I’m not sure why, but she’s the boss.”
With so much happening the previous day, Brittany forgot to have someone clarify how Erika had two fathers. “Hey Grady,” she asked. “Do you know anything about the Javiers’ family history? I’m completely confused.”
The corners of Grady’s lips curved into a snicker. “It’s the strangest story I’ve ever heard, but they make it work.” His board shorts had inched their way up. The bare skin of Grady’s thighs and lower leg rested lightly against hers. “My family was straight forward. We were just your typical mom, dad, and kid, but the Javiers are a different kind of clan.” He reached out and took her hand. “To understand, you’ll have to open your mind and let the information flow in. If you try to dissect it, you’ll never get the love they all feel for each other, or the ginormous amount of effort they’ve put in so Erika could grow up wrapped in a very odd looking cocoon of happiness.”
