I laugh. “Yes, congratulations for setting up a study date with one of the smartest guys in my grade.”
We keep going with the math sets until the front door swings open. Aunt Maddy left it unlocked so David could walk in. I’ll absolutely die if she ever gives him a key. It’ll literally be over my dead body.
“Ah, more math, I see,” David comments, walking into the kitchen and plonking the takeout food on the table.
“They’ve been hard at it,” Maddy says, opening the bag to hand out the containers.
Thank goodness. With the food out, Maddy is happy for us to press pause on the studying. Beef and broccoli have never tasted sweeter. It even drowns out Mr. Stuffy as he drones on about filing paperwork for a corporate merger his boss is working on. Even Milo seems bored by the story, so that’s saying something.
After David helps Maddy clear the emptied takeout containers from the table, he leans against the kitchen counter, eyeing her as she runs a damp cloth against the countertops.
“What is it, hon?” Aunt Maddy asks him. “You seem nervous.”
“There was something I wanted to talk to you about,” David says. He steals a glance at the table and then returns his attention to Maddy. “But maybe I should ask you privately.”
“Is it serious?” Aunt Maddy asks, tensing.
Aunt Maddy has never spent time with David in her bedroom. She always makes a point of being with him in the open, even when I escape their barf-inducing antics by going into my bedroom. The only other place they could talk would be on the living room couch, but we’d still hear every word of their conversation.
David grins. “No, it’s fun. Believe me. I just wanted to gauge how into it you would be before…” he trails off, turning his head in my direction.
“Is it something I’ll have to discuss with Jamie? Then you may as well just say it in front of her. Unless it’s because Milo’s here? Is it something only family should hear? No offense, Milo.”
Before the new wave of embarrassment colors Milo’s face, David grabs a hold of Maddy’s shoulders. “Honey, you’re spiraling.” He smiles, rubbing his hands down her arms and clasping her hands. “Relax. I wanted to know how you’d feel about jet-setting to Hawaii?”
Aunt Maddy’s mouth falls open, but before a word comes out, it puffs out of me. “What?”
“Hawaii?” Maddy questions, her eyebrows slanting as her forehead creases. “What are you talking about?”
“My company is sending me to a conference there,” David explains. “I have a few hours daily in meeting rooms, but the rest of the time is a glorified vacation.”
Aunt Maddy’s hands escape David’s and hover over her lips. “And you want me to go with you? That’s amazing, but there’s no way I can go.”
“Why not? You’d love Hawaii.”
“I can’t shut my business down.”
“You were just telling me about how happy you are that you have reliable staff you can trust to run the place while you’re gone.”
“That was when you and I went out for lunch,” Maddy replies. “Sure, I’ve had a sick day or two where I couldn’t come in. But I haven’t left them for days.”
“Come on,” David coaxes. “I’m sure they can handle it.”
“Maddy,” I splutter. “You’re not seriously considering this?”
Aunt Maddy turns to me and then quickly pans back to David. “You’re inviting me and Jamie?”
David sucks in a breath, his teeth gritting. “Ah no. I kinda thought this could be a good getaway for the two of us.”
Aunt Maddy shakes her head as if sense is falling into place. “Even if the cafe could run on its own, I can’t leave Jamie alone. I mean, it’s not just overnight in Hawaii, is it?”
David tries to subdue his smile. “I was thinking a week.”
“A week?” Maddy and I shout in unison.
Milo swivels on his seat. “Maybe I should let you guys talk alone.”
Maddy lifts a hand, which halts Milo from getting off his seat. “When is this? A month away or later? I’d need time to organize everything.”
