“Everybody?”
“Yep,” she continued to read her paper and eat her Lucky Charms from a bowl in front of her.
“Is that marshmallow cereal you have there?” he asked, appraising the contents of her bowl.
She slurped her milk loudly. “Yep,” she replied.
“Got any more?” he asked quietly.
&nbs
p; “Maybe,” was her response.
“What would I have to do to get some?”
She held out a coffee cup in response. “Get me some coffee when you go and get a bowl.”
“That I can do,” he said casually, as he walked to the coffeepot.“Where’s the cereal?”
“Uh uh…coffee first,” she sang.
“You drive a hard bargain,” he grunted.
“Don’t ever forget it,” she mumbled.
Brody poured her coffee and held it out to her.
“Cream and sugar?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Damn, you’re tough on me.” He added both and held the cup out to her.
“Cereal is in the pantry, in the corner behind the mashed potatoes.” She pointed her finger at him. “And don’t tell anyone about my secret stash. I save it for Sundays when I’m usually alone.” Her tone let him know she did not like the interruption.
“Where’s Sarah?”
“Church,” she said around a mouth full of Lucky Charms.
“She goes and you don’t?”
“She’s been going since she could walk and talk. Jeb and Sadie love it.”
“I bet they do. They used to take me, too. Some of my fondest memories of them. We would all go out to eat pancakes before church.” He smiled at the memory.
“They still do. John goes because no one will cook for him here and he’s always hoping to pick up a girl.”
Brody choked on his cereal. “At church?”
“Yep.” She continued to read her paper.
“Why don’t you go? Not a God-fearing Christian?”
“My mother always said that standing in church and stating you’re a Christian is about like standing in a bank and claiming you’re rich. It’s just not the way it works. Besides, this is the one day a week I get to be all alone. Usually,” she said caustically.
“Sorry I’m invading your space,” he muttered, as he poured another bowl of cereal.
“Hey! Go easy on my Lucky Charms, will you?” she scolded.
“I’ll buy you some more. Good grief. Can I have the sports section?” he asked quietly.