Solvang 2
Part 2
Pablo was in the kitchen when I got out of bed the next morning. He smiled at me as he poured his coffee into a tumbler to take with him. “Do I want to ask what your plans for today are?”
I shrugged, opening the refrigerator for the eggs. “I don’t know. It’s Saturday, so I’m not sure if I could even start on that thing you don’t want me doing.”
He sighed, setting the coffee down before crossing the room to me. “Felicia, I know I can’t tell you what to do. It’s just that…”
“You worry.” I grabbed the eggs and closed the refrigerator. “I appreciate that. But I can take care of myself.”
He took the eggs from me and set them on the counter before pulling me into his arms. “Can we have that makeup sex now?”
I shook my head, laughing at him. “Didn't I tell you not until after…”
“I was hoping you were joking.” He kissed me before letting me go.
“How long do you think you’ll be at work?”
He checked the time on the microwave. “I’m not sure. I have to double-check wedding preparations for next weekend. And I’m not sure who is covering reception. I think Victor is covering, to earn extra money for his trip home.” He paused to think. “I need to check scheduling and make sure the next two months are posted. It always get busier around the holidays and I have to make certain vacations are covered.”
I yawned. “It all sounds so boring.” I teased him. “I was going to make some eggs if you can stay for breakfast.”
He nodded. “Sure. What’s for breakfast?”
“Scrambled eggs with cheese and spinach.”
“I dare you to mix bacon in there and try to pass it off as a vegetable to Etta.” He laughed.
“I don’t think she’d like that very much.”
“If you can make some potatoes with it, I’ll even stay to help with dishes.”
“Okay.”
As soon as I had the potatoes on the stove, the doorbell rang. I checked the time on the microwave as Pablo went to see who it was. It was 7:48.
Pablo returned quietly.
“Who was it?” My question was answered seconds later as my brother entered the kitchen. “Paul? What are you doing here?”
My brother was Paul Michaels, former teenage heartthrob turned idiot actor. He had blown up his career a few times, but somehow managed to still be working. We hadn’t talked much in the nine years since his most recent fiasco, when he was sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years probation.
So, I was shocked to see him in my kitchen. I took a deep breath and let it out. His arrival was the definition of surprise.
“I wanted to see you.” He crossed the room and hugged me, temporarily suffocating me. “How are you?”
“Good.” I nodded, trying to push him away. “I’m good. We’re all good.” I glanced at Pablo who was nodding. “How are you?”
Paul pulled back. “Okay. I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I think every year, it gets harder to sleep this week.”
My thoughts flashed back to when I needed him, which told me why he was standing there in my kitchen. “I miss them, too.” I forced a smile. “I was just starting breakfast.”
“Can I help?”
I looked at my brother as he smiled at me. The green eyes we shared had a spark in them. “Okay. You can help.”
With his help, we made breakfast in relative silence. Conversation only existed because Pablo kept it going. Then, he woke up the kids for breakfast.
“Uncle Paul!” Etta ran into the kitchen, still in her Frozen pajamas. She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
Rafe was a few steps behind her, already dressed in gray sweatpants and a UCSB t-shirt. “Uncle Paul!” He threw his arms around him, welcoming his uncle. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see my favorite niece and nephew. How are you both? You’re both getting so big. How old are you now?”
“I’m seven.” Etta laughed as he tickled her.
“Nine.” Rafe pulled back, stepping over to the breakfast table. “And hungry. Did you know mom starves us?”
I shook my head at him. “I do not.”
Etta giggled as she pulled back. “He’s just saying that because I’m a vegetarian. And mom tries to cook some meals that I’ll eat.”
“A vegetarian? In this family? I don’t know how that could be possible.” He followed the kids to the breakfast table.
Pablo stepped over to help me serve breakfast. “The kids love him.”
I nodded. “He certainly knows how to be an uncle. It’s just the brother thing he’s sucked at … often.”
“But if he’s here now…”
“I know. We’ll see. This week is always hard and I…”
“If trying to help Pearl Tarkey keeps your mind off it, I’ll stop arguing with you about it.” He forced a smile to his face.
“Thank you.” I leaned over and kissed him. Then, I whispered in his ear, “If you’re trying to get makeup sex, you might get your wish.”
He laughed. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
“You always are, somehow.” I shook my head as I carried two plates over to the table. I placed one in front of Rafe and one in front of Etta before returning for my plate.
Pablo set a plate in front of Paul and sat down. “So, how long are you planning to stay?”
“I was thinking through next weekend.”
I started coughing, surprised at his response. “A whole week?”
“You’re staying with us, Uncle Paul, aren’t you?” Etta picked up a potato with her fork.
Paul glanced at me, waiting for answer.
“Of course he’s staying with us.” I forced a smile to my face. It would be an interesting week, that was certain. How long would it take for him to change his mind and head back to Los Angeles?
Pablo nodded. “He’s family. Of course he’ll stay with us.”
While we ate breakfast, Etta talked about school and gymnastics. Rafe talked about his work with the dogs, who were at his feet. They reminded me that I had forgotten to feed them breakfast. My brother’s arrival had distracted me.
We wrapped up breakfast and Rafe fed the dogs for me. I walked Pablo to the door as he was leaving later than he had planned.
“I’m sorry. I know I said I’d help with dishes…”
I kissed him. “It’s okay. We have a brand-new distraction. I’ll stop by later, if I can.”
“I'll see if any rooms are available, unless my office would…”
“Pablo!”
He slipped his arms around me. “What? You said no more closets. So, I thought…”
I could hear Paul clearing his throat.
Pablo kissed me one more time. “I have to go. Don’t have too much fun with your brother.”
I rolled my eyes at him as I closed the door behind him.
“Did I interrupt?”
I turned around to find him smirking at me. “Paul…”
“Pablo is Spanish for Paul, isn’t it?”
I shrugged. I knew where he was going. “I took French and Portuguese.”
“And you probably can still speak them, too.”
I nodded. “He was named after Picasso, you know.”
“And I was named after the saint.” He laughed.
“Not true.” I shook my head at him. It could have been true, but my parents weren’t around to ask. “I know your middle name Edison is after Thomas Edison.”
“And I believe Felicia is supposed to mean either happy things or happy times.” He laughed. “I think they named you perfectly.”
If he was trying to put a smile on my face, he succeeded. “Thank you.”
He shrugged, as if it was nothing. “They should’ve just named me Bat-Shit Crazy.”
I shook my head at him, losing the smile. “Watch your language, there are kids living here.” I paused to smile again. “And I don’t think it would have fit on the birth certificate.”
“True.” He laughed. “Can you believe it’s almost been fifteen years?”
I shook my head. “There are so many questions I wish I could ask mom.”
He leaned against the back of my green overstuffed chair. “And there are things I’m glad they weren’t around to see.” He crossed his arms while shaking his head.
I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing. My brother was more humbled than I remembered. I crossed the room and hugged him. “We’ve both made mistakes. But I’m glad you’re here.”
He accepted the hug before pulling back. “And I’m serious. I know I tend to get bored and leave town in the middle of the night to head back to L.A. But this time, I’m staying the whole week. I promise.”
“You promise?”
He nodded. “I don’t want to be alone on Tuesday.”
“You should have kids. You’ll never be alone.”
Paul leaned against the chair again. “I want kids. I always have. I’ve just gone about getting a family the wrong way.”
That’s one way to put it. I held my tongue, trying not to comment. “If you want practice with kids, how would you feel about babysitting so I can take care of a few things.”
He shrugged. “I’ve got the kids doing dishes. I think I can handle them.”
I laughed, knowing that one of them probably loaded the dishwasher and the other one was probably in his room playing on his Kindle. The few items that had to be hand washed were likely sitting where I’d left them. “Okay. I’ll trust you to make certain the dishes are done and the kids are taken care of.”
Paul smiled. “You can count on me, sister. I mean it this time.”
“Good. I have an investigation to begin.”
“What kind of investigation?”
“It’s a long story, but I have to find out who is trying to tear down a particular set of trees and stop them.”
“Where trees are concerned, I’d say always start with the local electric company.”
I laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“So, do we have to stay here? What is there to do around here?”
“There’s plenty to do around here. Ask the kids what they’d like to do. Just be back by dinner time.” Silently, I placed a bet with myself that he’d be gone before my investigation was over.
gagengirl entertainment
Solvang 2
Part 2
Pablo was in the kitchen when I got out of bed the next morning. He smiled at me as he poured his coffee into a tumbler to take with him. “Do I want to ask what your plans for today are?”
I shrugged, opening the refrigerator for the eggs. “I don’t know. It’s Saturday, so I’m not sure if I could even start on that thing you don’t want me doing.”
He sighed, setting the coffee down before crossing the room to me. “Felicia, I know I can’t tell you what to do. It’s just that…”
“You worry.” I grabbed the eggs and closed the refrigerator. “I appreciate that. But I can take care of myself.”
He took the eggs from me and set them on the counter before pulling me into his arms. “Can we have that makeup sex now?”
I shook my head, laughing at him. “Didn't I tell you not until after…”
“I was hoping you were joking.” He kissed me before letting me go.
“How long do you think you’ll be at work?”
He checked the time on the microwave. “I’m not sure. I have to double-check wedding preparations for next weekend. And I’m not sure who is covering reception. I think Victor is covering, to earn extra money for his trip home.” He paused to think. “I need to check scheduling and make sure the next two months are posted. It always get busier around the holidays and I have to make certain vacations are covered.”
I yawned. “It all sounds so boring.” I teased him. “I was going to make some eggs if you can stay for breakfast.”
He nodded. “Sure. What’s for breakfast?”
“Scrambled eggs with cheese and spinach.”
“I dare you to mix bacon in there and try to pass it off as a vegetable to Etta.” He laughed.
“I don’t think she’d like that very much.”
“If you can make some potatoes with it, I’ll even stay to help with dishes.”
“Okay.”
As soon as I had the potatoes on the stove, the doorbell rang. I checked the time on the microwave as Pablo went to see who it was. It was 7:48.
Pablo returned quietly.
“Who was it?” My question was answered seconds later as my brother entered the kitchen. “Paul? What are you doing here?”
My brother was Paul Michaels, former teenage heartthrob turned idiot actor. He had blown up his career a few times, but somehow managed to still be working. We hadn’t talked much in the nine years since his most recent fiasco, when he was sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years probation.
So, I was shocked to see him in my kitchen. I took a deep breath and let it out. His arrival was the definition of surprise.
“I wanted to see you.” He crossed the room and hugged me, temporarily suffocating me. “How are you?”
“Good.” I nodded, trying to push him away. “I’m good. We’re all good.” I glanced at Pablo who was nodding. “How are you?”
Paul pulled back. “Okay. I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I think every year, it gets harder to sleep this week.”
My thoughts flashed back to when I needed him, which told me why he was standing there in my kitchen. “I miss them, too.” I forced a smile. “I was just starting breakfast.”
“Can I help?”
I looked at my brother as he smiled at me. The green eyes we shared had a spark in them. “Okay. You can help.”
With his help, we made breakfast in relative silence. Conversation only existed because Pablo kept it going. Then, he woke up the kids for breakfast.
“Uncle Paul!” Etta ran into the kitchen, still in her Frozen pajamas. She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
Rafe was a few steps behind her, already dressed in gray sweatpants and a UCSB t-shirt. “Uncle Paul!” He threw his arms around him, welcoming his uncle. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see my favorite niece and nephew. How are you both? You’re both getting so big. How old are you now?”
“I’m seven.” Etta laughed as he tickled her.
“Nine.” Rafe pulled back, stepping over to the breakfast table. “And hungry. Did you know mom starves us?”
I shook my head at him. “I do not.”
Etta giggled as she pulled back. “He’s just saying that because I’m a vegetarian. And mom tries to cook some meals that I’ll eat.”
“A vegetarian? In this family? I don’t know how that could be possible.” He followed the kids to the breakfast table.
Pablo stepped over to help me serve breakfast. “The kids love him.”
I nodded. “He certainly knows how to be an uncle. It’s just the brother thing he’s sucked at … often.”
“But if he’s here now…”
“I know. We’ll see. This week is always hard and I…”
“If trying to help Pearl Tarkey keeps your mind off it, I’ll stop arguing with you about it.” He forced a smile to his face.
“Thank you.” I leaned over and kissed him. Then, I whispered in his ear, “If you’re trying to get makeup sex, you might get your wish.”
He laughed. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
“You always are, somehow.” I shook my head as I carried two plates over to the table. I placed one in front of Rafe and one in front of Etta before returning for my plate.
Pablo set a plate in front of Paul and sat down. “So, how long are you planning to stay?”
“I was thinking through next weekend.”
I started coughing, surprised at his response. “A whole week?”
“You’re staying with us, Uncle Paul, aren’t you?” Etta picked up a potato with her fork.
Paul glanced at me, waiting for answer.
“Of course he’s staying with us.” I forced a smile to my face. It would be an interesting week, that was certain. How long would it take for him to change his mind and head back to Los Angeles?
Pablo nodded. “He’s family. Of course he’ll stay with us.”
While we ate breakfast, Etta talked about school and gymnastics. Rafe talked about his work with the dogs, who were at his feet. They reminded me that I had forgotten to feed them breakfast. My brother’s arrival had distracted me.
We wrapped up breakfast and Rafe fed the dogs for me. I walked Pablo to the door as he was leaving later than he had planned.
“I’m sorry. I know I said I’d help with dishes…”
I kissed him. “It’s okay. We have a brand-new distraction. I’ll stop by later, if I can.”
“I'll see if any rooms are available, unless my office would…”
“Pablo!”
He slipped his arms around me. “What? You said no more closets. So, I thought…”
I could hear Paul clearing his throat.
Pablo kissed me one more time. “I have to go. Don’t have too much fun with your brother.”
I rolled my eyes at him as I closed the door behind him.
“Did I interrupt?”
I turned around to find him smirking at me. “Paul…”
“Pablo is Spanish for Paul, isn’t it?”
I shrugged. I knew where he was going. “I took French and Portuguese.”
“And you probably can still speak them, too.”
I nodded. “He was named after Picasso, you know.”
“And I was named after the saint.” He laughed.
“Not true.” I shook my head at him. It could have been true, but my parents weren’t around to ask. “I know your middle name Edison is after Thomas Edison.”
“And I believe Felicia is supposed to mean either happy things or happy times.” He laughed. “I think they named you perfectly.”
If he was trying to put a smile on my face, he succeeded. “Thank you.”
He shrugged, as if it was nothing. “They should’ve just named me Bat-Shit Crazy.”
I shook my head at him, losing the smile. “Watch your language, there are kids living here.” I paused to smile again. “And I don’t think it would have fit on the birth certificate.”
“True.” He laughed. “Can you believe it’s almost been fifteen years?”
I shook my head. “There are so many questions I wish I could ask mom.”
He leaned against the back of my green overstuffed chair. “And there are things I’m glad they weren’t around to see.” He crossed his arms while shaking his head.
I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing. My brother was more humbled than I remembered. I crossed the room and hugged him. “We’ve both made mistakes. But I’m glad you’re here.”
He accepted the hug before pulling back. “And I’m serious. I know I tend to get bored and leave town in the middle of the night to head back to L.A. But this time, I’m staying the whole week. I promise.”
“You promise?”
He nodded. “I don’t want to be alone on Tuesday.”
“You should have kids. You’ll never be alone.”
Paul leaned against the chair again. “I want kids. I always have. I’ve just gone about getting a family the wrong way.”
That’s one way to put it. I held my tongue, trying not to comment. “If you want practice with kids, how would you feel about babysitting so I can take care of a few things.”
He shrugged. “I’ve got the kids doing dishes. I think I can handle them.”
I laughed, knowing that one of them probably loaded the dishwasher and the other one was probably in his room playing on his Kindle. The few items that had to be hand washed were likely sitting where I’d left them. “Okay. I’ll trust you to make certain the dishes are done and the kids are taken care of.”
Paul smiled. “You can count on me, sister. I mean it this time.”
“Good. I have an investigation to begin.”
“What kind of investigation?”
“It’s a long story, but I have to find out who is trying to tear down a particular set of trees and stop them.”
“Where trees are concerned, I’d say always start with the local electric company.”
I laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“So, do we have to stay here? What is there to do around here?”
“There’s plenty to do around here. Ask the kids what they’d like to do. Just be back by dinner time.” Silently, I placed a bet with myself that he’d be gone before my investigation was over.
gagengirl entertainment