184 - Banana Bread
*Since you need a minute, or several, let’s go somewhere that you can process this and make a plan of attack. And if there is coffee involved, I will not object. - Critter*
Camille and Critter left Target and went to her favorite coffee shop. Ignoring the confused look she was getting from her brother, she got in line to order herself a decaf caramel macchiato and a slice of banana nut bread. Deciding that… when in Rome, he ordered an iced chai latte and a slice of what they claimed was world famous cinnamon coffee cake.
After they had their drinks and treats, they sat at one of the communal style tables. She picked at her banana nut bread, making more of a mess rather than eating any of it. Critter let her work through it and knew that when she was ready, she would talk.
Not only did he know his sister, but he worked with a lot of women. Forcing them to confront the issue at hand would not end well for either of them. His sister had an attitude and their mother’s aim with a gun. The plan was to stay on the right side of Camille.
When the coffee cake and iced chai latte was gone, he returned to the counter and ordered another drink and a bottle of water for his sister. The girl behind the counter flirted and he obliged by flirting back. She was cute and he knew that he could turn on the charm and could probably talk her into a quickie in the stock room or the bathroom.
Although his sister would not begrudge him hooking up, and might even encourage it, today was not the day and right now certainly was not the time. This was made even more abundantly clear when the barista came back with the new latte and bottle of water. She sat them down on the counter and then leaned closer to Critter.
“Is Cam okay? She seems a bit off.”
Critter smiled at her, grateful that his little sister had people here that were concerned about her. “She’s fine. She graduated and now she’s facing the fact that her life is going to change.”
Winking at the woman, he took the two drinks and returned to the table where Camille had picked all the pieces of walnuts out of the banana nut bread. Smirking as he sat down, he decided that it was now banana nut-less bread. Picking up one of the nut pieces that lay discarded on the plate he popped it into his mouth.
“You actually going to eat that? Or just deconstruct it?”
“The last week or so, the taste of the nuts have made me gag.” She gave a small shrug, “I guess we know why now.”
Grabbing another nut, he took her hand with his other hand. “You said that Darkness would be okay with you being pregnant.”
“He’ll be fine, he’ll be thrilled.”
Critter squeezed her hand as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“If it’s mom, we can run interference.”
She shook her head before looking up at him. “Will the kids think that we’ll love the baby more than them?”
“Oh, Camille,” he got up and moved to sit next to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he snuggled her closely and kissed the top of her head. Silent tears ran down her cheeks, landing on his heather grey shirt. Her arms slipped around his waist, and she grasped the back of his shirt in tight fists.
“You’ve been through so much in the last few years,” he murmured to her. “Honestly, I don’t know how you’re so damned strong. But you have fought for those kids; time and time again. You fought for them before they were even yours. Both of you have.”
“Whatever insecurities your family has, you guys will work through it. I have no doubt about that.” Shifting, he tipped her face up to him and kissed her forehead. “When you’re ready, we’ll go back home, I’ll run interference and you go tell your man he’s going to be a daddy. Again.”
Camille nodded as she sniffled and slowly sat up. Swiping at her eyes, she gave her brother a watery smile, “Mom’s going to know that I was crying.”
“You leave mom to me,” he helped her brush the tears off her cheeks. “You want me to drive?”
She nodded.
“I love you, little girl,” Critter said imitating their father. As expected, it caused her to laugh.
“I love you too, old man.”
“Come on,” he moved slightly and then looked at the plate of the destroyed slice of banana nut bread. “Do you want that?”
“No,” she shook her head. “I’ll let Olivia know… I don’t know what I’ll tell her.”
“I got you.”
Standing up, he carried the small white plate to the counter. Smiling at the redhead, he handed over the plate.
“My sister is nervous about moving, I don’t think she ate any of it. Might be good for your bird feeder outside.”
The woman smiled at him as she took the plate. “Looks like she already tore it up for the birds.”
“Yeah,” he agreed with a smile. “I’m going to take her home and let her stress about moving while she’s packing the entire house.”
Laughing, she rested her hand on his arm. “I know that she like’s Darla’s, it looks like a daiquiri might be just what’s needed.”
“That sounds great.”
Leaving the plate with the barista, he returned to his sister and guided her out to her Jeep. He made sure that she was settled in the passenger seat and buckled in before moving to the driver's seat. Pulling up the GPS program on the large screen in the center of the dash. Telling the computer program that he wanted to go home, it pulled three options for the seven, twelve or twenty-two minute drive.
“Seriously?” he asked, looking at the route that was three times as long as the shortest. “Short or long?”
Camille chose the middle route. “The shortest has a school zone and the longest has construction.”
“Middle it is.”
Pulling out of the parking lot and headed home, the radio turned up loud and they sung along to the songs. Pulling into her driveway, he parked behind a new collection of bikes and assumed that more Cajuns had arrived.
“Go straight up to your room. I’ll deal with everyone.”
As they were entering the house, he pulled his phone out and searched for a name. As Camille headed upstairs, Critter told Darkness that she needed him upstairs in their room. Critter assured Darkness that she was fine and he headed upstairs.
“Mom,” Critter called out. “We need to leave the house for a little bit.”
“Is that Camille?” Sid asked as he clicked the button to connect the call. “I need to ask her-“
“Hello?” Evie asked from the phone.
“Hey, Evie,” Critter asked, “how do you relax with your men?”
“They strap me to a cross and whip me.”
“Hate to tell you this, but your youngest daughter is a freak. Do you want to listen to that?”
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