racks sitting on the island, Max casually strolled over to the glass doors to prepare for his plan of action. He feigned interest in the craziness happening in the pool, but his entire being was zoned in on the potent perfume of the peach pies that became almost overbearing now that they were free from the confines of the oven.
“What kind of salad are you making for lunch?” he asked nonchalantly.
“Chicken curry.”
“Hmm… That sounds good. Do you mind chopping up some pickles like I like them to go with it?”
“Sure.”
Max waited to hear the door to the fridge open before yanking the glass door open in sudden panic. “Mave! Pearl can’t swim! Get her!” His voice rang out in hysterics, reaching pretty high for a baritone.
Mave looked up in confusion at his brother like Max had grown another head. Pearl was latched onto his back as he walked around the shallow end of the pool while pulling Ludwig on a float. Only seconds ticked by before Izzy dashed out the door, almost knocking Max down. With her nicely distracted and outside, Max quickly slid a steaming pie off the rack with a pot holder. Set on his path of escape, he swiped the milk from the fridge and hauled tail to his room.
Feeling as though he just pulled off some high-stake crime, heart thumping rapidly in his chest and sweat dampening his forehead, Max locked himself in and settled on the floor beside the unmade bed after kicking a few articles of clothing out of the way. Taking a few calming breaths, he began working the spoon into the top crust that was browned to golden perfection. Before he could deliver the bite to his salivating mouth, a harsh beating attacked his door.
“Maxim King! So not cool!” Bang, bang, bang. “Stealing a pie by making me panic over my child!” Bang, bang, bang. Each of her words was delivered along with a fist to the door.
He eyed the gooey fruit and crust on the spoon with wafts of steam rising. “It’s good to keep you on your toes with the rugrats,” he hollered back before taking the first bite, dropping his head back to rest on the bed and moaned. “Dang, this is good!” he garbled out.
“You forget too easy what happens when you mess with me, Pepper Man!” Izzy let the threat drip through the word pepper, sounding right menacing for such a tiny woman.
Her threat caused the spoon to waiver a split second at his lips. Shrugging, he took another bite and slowly chewed. “This pie will be worth the consequences!”
She kept up the attack on his door and the knob. “Max!”
“Go away!” he yelled back.
Izzy’s tirade lasted until half the pie had vanished before finally giving up. With the peace and quiet settling around his deep-blue room, Max tucked into finishing his pie mission. He cocooned in the shaded corner, lucky to have the first floor bedroom. The dark walls helped to tone down the bright light flowing in from the large windows. Not once during daylight hours had he flipped on a light switch.
By the time the dish was empty and the jug of milk drained dry, Max declared the mission a success. With heavy eyes from the sugar high, he debated climbing back into bed. His hand was on the rumbled cover to push it out of the way when ruckus broke loose from above, signaling the arrival of his friends. Looking at the bed with longing one last time, Max unlocked his door and headed upstairs.
Keeping his eyes peeled for Izzy, Max stepped into the living room and stumbled upon an odd mix of shock and awkwardness. Everyone was perched on the cream-colored couches and chairs, staring in the same direction. Max angled his head and caught sight of Kyle. Features of the kid he had grown up with mingled with the mature version—the unruly dark-blond hair was now neatly trimmed with a few specks of grey and those light-green eyes were framed with a few fine lines.
“What’s happening, man?” Max pulled his friend out of the chair and wrapped him in a bear hug, choosing to ignore whatever he had
“What kind of salad are you making for lunch?” he asked nonchalantly.
“Chicken curry.”
“Hmm… That sounds good. Do you mind chopping up some pickles like I like them to go with it?”
“Sure.”
Max waited to hear the door to the fridge open before yanking the glass door open in sudden panic. “Mave! Pearl can’t swim! Get her!” His voice rang out in hysterics, reaching pretty high for a baritone.
Mave looked up in confusion at his brother like Max had grown another head. Pearl was latched onto his back as he walked around the shallow end of the pool while pulling Ludwig on a float. Only seconds ticked by before Izzy dashed out the door, almost knocking Max down. With her nicely distracted and outside, Max quickly slid a steaming pie off the rack with a pot holder. Set on his path of escape, he swiped the milk from the fridge and hauled tail to his room.
Feeling as though he just pulled off some high-stake crime, heart thumping rapidly in his chest and sweat dampening his forehead, Max locked himself in and settled on the floor beside the unmade bed after kicking a few articles of clothing out of the way. Taking a few calming breaths, he began working the spoon into the top crust that was browned to golden perfection. Before he could deliver the bite to his salivating mouth, a harsh beating attacked his door.
“Maxim King! So not cool!” Bang, bang, bang. “Stealing a pie by making me panic over my child!” Bang, bang, bang. Each of her words was delivered along with a fist to the door.
He eyed the gooey fruit and crust on the spoon with wafts of steam rising. “It’s good to keep you on your toes with the rugrats,” he hollered back before taking the first bite, dropping his head back to rest on the bed and moaned. “Dang, this is good!” he garbled out.
“You forget too easy what happens when you mess with me, Pepper Man!” Izzy let the threat drip through the word pepper, sounding right menacing for such a tiny woman.
Her threat caused the spoon to waiver a split second at his lips. Shrugging, he took another bite and slowly chewed. “This pie will be worth the consequences!”
She kept up the attack on his door and the knob. “Max!”
“Go away!” he yelled back.
Izzy’s tirade lasted until half the pie had vanished before finally giving up. With the peace and quiet settling around his deep-blue room, Max tucked into finishing his pie mission. He cocooned in the shaded corner, lucky to have the first floor bedroom. The dark walls helped to tone down the bright light flowing in from the large windows. Not once during daylight hours had he flipped on a light switch.
By the time the dish was empty and the jug of milk drained dry, Max declared the mission a success. With heavy eyes from the sugar high, he debated climbing back into bed. His hand was on the rumbled cover to push it out of the way when ruckus broke loose from above, signaling the arrival of his friends. Looking at the bed with longing one last time, Max unlocked his door and headed upstairs.
Keeping his eyes peeled for Izzy, Max stepped into the living room and stumbled upon an odd mix of shock and awkwardness. Everyone was perched on the cream-colored couches and chairs, staring in the same direction. Max angled his head and caught sight of Kyle. Features of the kid he had grown up with mingled with the mature version—the unruly dark-blond hair was now neatly trimmed with a few specks of grey and those light-green eyes were framed with a few fine lines.
“What’s happening, man?” Max pulled his friend out of the chair and wrapped him in a bear hug, choosing to ignore whatever he had
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