Page 42 of Missed Sunrise
Vinh closed and locked the door and followed behind her, pressing a kiss to her hair before he wandered into the kitchen.
Cody’s expression turned absolutely evil as he lifted the key in the air and opened his mouth. “Dad?—”
“Cody Louise Desmond, NO,”she screeched, interrupting him. “You willnot.”
Bewildered, I got up from the couch and backed away, looking between them. It didn’t seem wise to be caught in the middle.
But Cody just cackled as he got up and followed Vinh into the kitchen.
I raised my eyebrows at Bree and asked, “Louise?”
She sucked in her cheeks and pursed her lips in amusement. “No, it’s Louis. But one time when Grandmother was giving me hell, which actually… I think that was the last time he saw her before her stroke. Huh.” She flapped her hand in the air before continuing. “Anyway, he was doing his usual, trying to deflect from me, and ended up telling her that he’d changed his middle name to ‘Louise.’” She shrugged as she finished the story, but there was mirth in her eyes. “It was awesome.”
I walked over to her and offered my arm to escort her to the kitchen. “How was your visit today?”
She took my arm, and as we were almost the same height, our gazes held easily as we talked. “Fine. They said her vitals are strong, and she even shows some improvement as far as reflexes go, but no other changes. They’re not sure if she can hear or understand more or not, but I talked to her for a while and then just sat and read. I don’t know what else to do.”
I pulled her in for a snuggle. “You’re doing great.”
When we rounded the kitchen island, Cody and Vinh were deep in discussion.
“As I’m sure you know, hurricane season begins on June 1,” Vinh was saying to Cody, who looked as serious as I’d ever seenhim. Which was very serious. “I’ll send you Henry’s number. If for some reason I’m not around, Henry is who you want to call if you need the boat moved inland, not Roy. Roy is an asshole.”
“Hey, I like Roy,” I objected.
Vinh sighed. “I like Roy too. He’s just more likely to make truly horrific jokes than actually help you move the boat.”
I hummed. “True. But he did let me tattoo a happy oyster on his back.”
“When?” Vinh demanded.
I shrugged. “Last week.”
Bree knocked me with her shoulder. “You didn’t tell me your supplies came in. Does this mean you can finally do mine?”
I didn’t tattoo much these days, and when we moved from Eufaula, I only brought my gun, leaving the rest behind at the shop I apprenticed at. That only changed when Roy came into Ari’s a few weeks ago and mentioned being jealous of the tattoo-cover-up job I’d done for Malachi last year. Which resulted in me bartering a deal with him—one oyster tattoo for a shipment of oysters for the restaurant.
Mom had been very pleased with my entrepreneurial spirit.
More pleased than the actual oysters would be, I imagined.
“Come on.” Bree nudged me again, and I realized I hadn’t answered. “The design is perfect. I’m ready.”
I blew out a breath and, for some reason, glanced at Cody, only to find him already looking at me. He smiled in encouragement, and that did the trick.
“Okay, Princess. We can start it today. You’re sure there aren’t any changes you want to make to the design?”
She jumped in excitement but then stilled, deep in thought as her eyes went distant. She turned to Vinh and Cody. “I am so sorry, but I need you two to leave.”
They both just stared at her, but Cody recovered first. “Jesus Christ, Cher. What happened to Mrs. Make Everyone Happy? That was fucking rude.”
There apparently was some of that left in her because she flushed. “Well, I want to show you guys when it’s done. And this is going to sound kind of self-pitying, but you two are the only ones I’d be excited to show besides Jeanne. So, ya know, why don’t you skedaddle while Liem works his magic, and then when it’s done, I can show it off?”
Vinh worked his way over to her as she spoke and then gathered her into his arms as she finished, whispering something only for her in her ear. Whatever it was, it made Bree flush even worse, and Cody gagged before he announced, “Okay, I’m leaving. Vinh, do you want to go sit in silence with our laptops somewhere together?”
My brother tucked Bree under his arm and aimed his arched brow at Cody, who was already backing out of the room. “Deal.”
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