Two Bar Mitzvahs by Kat Bastion & Stone Bastion

Author:Kat Bastion & Stone Bastion [Bastion, Kat Bastion and Stone]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
Publisher: Kat Bastion
Published: 2014-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

18

Family Time

At 1:06 p.m., I ushered a blushing and thoroughly satisfied woman back down to the pool area. Hannah had begged me to take the sleeping Ava back out, since the dog would be crated at night, and of course, I caved to her and Mom’s earlier request for puppy time.

And, after the lousy morning with dual surprise health inspections, I welcomed anything to distract us into enjoying ourselves.

We hadn’t taken two steps onto the patio before I spotted Dad in front of the barbeque. Armed with tongs in one hand and a metal spatula in the other, he wore a black grilling apron and a white chef’s hat.

“Mom make you wear that thing?” Grinning, I pointed at his head.

He glanced over at Mom, winking. “Maybe.”

A breeze blew some of the smoke our way, and I coughed. Then I pulled Hannah away from the dissipating cloud, approaching the tables and chairs that were shaded with umbrellas. I took the leash from Hannah and tied it around the leg of the nearest lounge chair while Hannah poured a glass of water into an empty dog bowl she’d carried. The boundary gave the dog plenty of room to reach us where we sat at the far end of the tables, but kept her out of danger and the risk of getting underfoot.

Kendall handed me an open beer as she walked by. “Hannah, we’re serving up mai tais. You game?”

Hannah nodded. “Yeah, I’ll try one.”

Kiki blinked, moving to a chair across from us, out of the sun. “You’ve never had a mai tai?”

“Nope.” Hannah said the word with a popping “P” on the end.

“What about piña coladas? I know you’ve had strawberry daiquiris,” Kiki replied.

Hannah took a sip of my beer. “I’ve experimented plenty with drinks.”

Mom walked up with their guests. “Hannah, these are our friends and direct neighbors Lana and Kevin Thompson. And this is Walter and Amy Rivers; they live around the block.”

“Nice to meet you.” Hannah gave a little wave, since all the chairs and people between them made it impossible to shake hands.

Although Dad could’ve grilled something as pretentious as steaks, we didn’t roll that way. Not at our house. Dad wined and dined any day, and many nights, for business. But he never brought any of that flash beyond the front gate at the curb. Our home was his sanctuary, a casual place filled with laughter and love.

And so Dad shouted out the menu choices, “All the burgers with cheese, say aye.”

“Aye,” I called.

“Aye,” Kristen added.

“Any hot dog takers?”

Kendall, Lana, Jason, Kevin, and I all called out an affirmative. Kendall returned to the table with Hannah’s tropical drink, complete with an hourglass-shaped glass, a blue drink umbrella, and a wedge of orange dangling on the rim.

Impressed with the presentation, I arched a brow. “You looking for a job at the bar?”

Kendall scrunched her face at me.

I laughed. “Could’ve fooled me. That’s a five-star looking drink.”

“Pffft.” Kendall plopped into a seat across from us.

Kristen began to pass around two platters, one with burgers and the other with toasted buns.

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