Page 52 of Lavender Lake
“I don’twanta hot chocolate,” she snapped. “I want a cup of coffee with mondo doses of caffeine. And I want it sugary and creamy and delicious.”
He sighed, but nodded.
“And here I thought I’d take the cake for orneriness,” I quipped.
“I’m not ornery. I’m pregnant.”
“If it quacks like a duck . . .” I smiled. “Look in the fridge.”
She went to the fridge and opened it and squealed in delight. “You didn’t.”
“I did,” I said with a wry smile.
“What?” Declan asked. “What did she do?”
“She slaughtered a chicken,” Bowman said as he came down the stairs and into the kitchen. “And then she gutted it and plucked the feathers from it and everything.”
“Boy, you can take the girl out of Idaho, but you can’t take the Idaho out of the girl.” Hadley grinned. “Did you wear your fancy pants and silk blouse to do it?”
“No.” My smile deepened. “I wore one of your old shirts.”
Hadley laughed. “Well, thanks, I guess.”
Declan blinked. “Oh, I get it now.”
“Get what?” I asked.
“Last night at dinner. Hadley said chicken. You guys had a complete conversation in one word.”
“Yep.” Hadley nodded. “Twin thing.”
“Spooky,” Declan said.
“Is anyone hungry?” I asked. “I can make breakfast.”
“I think we should get to the hospital,” Hadley said. “I need a to-go cup.”
Declan made a noise that sounded like a rumble coming from this throat.
“Our child will not have a third eye because Mommy couldn’t live without caffeine,” Hadley told him. “And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll sit quietly by and let me have this one.”
Declan sighed. “Yes, dear.”
“Ah, and so it begins,” Bowman quipped.
“Maybe we should stop by Sweet Teeth anyway,” I said. “Pick up some pastries for the nurses that let Muddy stay the night.”
“Oh, good idea.” Hadley nodded. “You guys want to handle that? We need to be back here before nine. And I want to visit Dad.”
“Sure,” I said, my eyes sliding to Bowman. “You good with that?”
“Yeah. Which car are we driving?” he asked.
“Take Dad’s,” Hadley said.
“Keys?” I asked.
“Hook.”
