Page 53 of Mimosa

“We’re going to go with Murphy to the motel where they’re staying this week. I think it’s going to be…so nice.”

“You know we’re all gonna cry.”

“Even Cosmo and Goldie.”

Mims thought about Cosmo, how eager he was to help the little family, but how reticent he was at going to see them. “If he goes. Cosmo…he’s still weird about families. For good reason.”

“Yeah. Well, if you’d walked in and found yours all dead, you would too.”

“Exactly. I don’t even talk to mine, but I’d never want that. What if he doesn’t go? He’s the one that started us on this thing to up our favorability in the community.”

Abs shrugged. “Maybe it’s enough to know that you’ve helped to do something good.”

Mims thought the same. “Well, if he doesn’t go, we’ll let him know.”

“Sure.”

When they got back to the pub, Katie and Little Mick ran over to them. “Abs, Mick is getting into stuff and Hippy’s letting him!”

“What were you told about tattling, Katie?” he asked her.

“And he should get into things?”

Hippy came over and grabbed their hands, taking them back to the table where there were color books and crayons all over it. “Sit, both of you.”

“Babysitting? Where is everyone?” Mims asked Hippy.

“Off doing errands, and Murphy took Eazy out for lunch. What did that gallery say?”

They told him how it went and he smiled at the two of them. “You even threw the wine in there. That’s awesome.”

“That was all Abs. I would never have thought about it.”

“Well, good. Listen, can you two take the kids up to their apartment? If an inspector came in, we’d be up shit creek.”

“Sure,” Abs said and went to the table to pick up Mick into his arms. “Katie, let’s go.”

“Good. It smells of alcohol in here,” she said haughtily.

Mims winked at a haggard Hippy. “Just tell their folks where they’re at.”

“Ali?” he heard a female voice call, and the name was so familiar, he spun around to see his sister.

“Nadia!” he ran over to her and hugged her tightly. “What are you doing here?”

Nadia eyed Hippy before nodding at him. “Hello, Hippy.”

“Nadia. Would you like a Coke?”

“Gave up sugar. Water would be great though.”

They sat at a table far from the bar and Hippy brought over her water.

“I won’t let anyone interrupt you.”

“Thanks, Hippy,” Mims said and as soon as Hippy was gone back behind the bar, he asked his sister, “What’s wrong?”

“Ali, it’s…it’s dad. He’s really sick.”

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