Page 62 of This Kind of Forever
Hallie offers me a small, genuine smile. “Sure. I just have to figure out what I’m going to make. I swear, I never realized how exhausting it would be to come up with three meals a day for the rest of my life.”
I grin, feeling some of that ease coming back to us. “You can have some of this,” I tell her, handing her a plate. “Mom wanted to try this vegetarian lasagna recipe she saw in a magazine, and she made me and Dad be her test subjects so she didn’t serve you something that tastes awful. I can happily report that it doesn’t.”
She grips the plate as an expression crosses her face that’s hard to read. “She doesn’t have to do that.”
I set some lasagna on my own plate. “Maybe not, but it’s not like it’s hard to accommodate you. Besides, you know her. This is how she shows her love.”
Before Hallie can protest, our phones chime simultaneously with a text. Opening it, I find that Clara has added Luke, Delilah, Hallie and me to a new group chat. Like always, it has a quirky name that Clara will switch out at will.
Five Peas in a Pod
Clara
We never properly celebrated our Hallie girl being back in town. Let’s go out!
Foster
That’s really not necessary…
I’m in.
Hallie’s phone dings again, and she shoots me a dirty look after she reads my response.
I laugh. “Hey, you never know. It could be fun.”
She pouts adorably. “Traitor.”
Delilah
What did you have in mind?
Clara
There’s a karaoke night at a bar in Tobermory?
Luke
No.
Clara
Don’t be a buzzkill, Chief Grumpy! Try to have some fun.
Luke
Karaoke is not fun. Staying home is fun.
Said every grumpy old man ever.
Admittedly, I’m not too fond of our sister’s idea either, but I’ll take any opportunity to give Luke shit. He has loosened up a little since he’s been with Delilah, but overall, he’s still as serious as ever.
Luke
I’m three years older than you, fucker. Not three decades.
Foster
Being a homebody is perfectly valid.
