“Just up here.” I crane my neck to look up the street. “I hope,” I mutter under my breath.
It’s Friday night. After our meeting at the school earlier, I talked Julian into taking us to a new Texan restaurant that just opened up in town. It’s the opening week, so they have extra attractions there. It seemed like it could really be fun from what I read in the brochure. Hopefully, it will cheer Willow up.
“What exactly is Texan food?” Julian calls.
I smirk and wink at Sammy. “Horse.”
“What?” Will snaps, outraged. “I’m not eating horse.”
I giggle.
“They do not eat horse,” she calls. “You twit, Brell.”
Sammy and I giggle. Moments later, we arrive at the restaurant.
TEXAS RANGERS
The restaurant has huge double wooden doors, and the décor has been set up to make it look like a big barn. It seems so out of place compared with the snooty parts of London Julian insists on frequenting.
“Oh, wow, sick,” Sammy whispers, looking around in awe.
“Yes, there’s no doubt what we’ll all be after eating here,” Julian mutters dryly.
I elbow him. “Stop being such a snob.”
The attendant walks up to us. “Table for four?”
“Yes, please.” I smile as I go up onto my toes, completely excited to be here.
The attendant hands me a small silver bucket of beer nuts. “Nuts are on the house.” She begins to walk off. “This way, please,” she calls over her shoulders.
The children follow her, but I hang back, hunching my shoulders and smiling broadly at Julian. “I love it when nuts are on the house.”
He looks at me, deadpan. “Or in your mouth.”
I laugh. “That, too.”
We weave through the busy restaurant and take a seat at a bench seat. Country music is blaring through the space, and the back area of the restaurant opens out onto a huge courtyard. They have attractions out there, obviously because it’s the opening week. There are donkeys, horses, and a baby animal petting zoo, with a bucking bull set up in the corner.
“I love this place.” I smile as we sit down.
“Me, too.” Sammy beams. I hold my fist up and he punches it with his.
Julian turns his attention to his daughter. “What do you think of the place, Will?”
Will looks around and sees the peanut shells on the floor. “It’s a bit feral, if you ask me.”
“Thank you. At last, someone who knows what they’re talking about.” Julian sighs, relieved.
Sammy and I pull a face at one another, and we open the menus.
“Wow, I’m definitely getting the ribs.” I keep reading. “It’s called The Huge Rack.”
A look of disgust washes over Julian’s face. “I have to sit opposite you and watch you chew meat from a bone that’s called the Huge Rack?”
I giggle. “Aha, and I’m drinking beer straight out of the bottle, too.”
Willow giggles. “You are so uncouth, Brell.”