Chapter 6
They had been there a while, and Rob couldn't believe they hadn't even finished touring the whole house. The kitchen was big, full of marble and dark wood, like the rest of the house. Though the appliances in there were in an older style, they were expensive looking.
"What did you want to do for dinner?" Rob asked as they poked around in the kitchen. It wasn't stocked with anything but dishes and years old spices.
"We can order in from the local café," Julian said automatically. "By the time we're done with upstairs, our dinner should be here."
"The fridge is empty. Does the local grocery store deliver?" Rob wondered.
That's when Julian looked over at Danny who was opening and closing drawers. "Maybe Danny shouldn't stay cooped up in here. We can go into town. That way we can eat, do some shopping and you can familiarize yourself with Peach Tree, not that there is much to it."
His decision surprised Rob, but Julian did whatever was best for Danny.
"We're going out to dinner and to see the town," Julian told his little brother, but he wasn't too excited.
"OK," Danny said cautiously. "Are we going in the car again?"
"We are, but it's only a short trip. We'll go now and look at the upstairs later. Danny should see the town while it's still light out," Julian said. He must have been worried that being out after dark in an unfamiliar place would scare him.
Danny already seemed apprehensive as they went to the car and Julian got him into his car seat. "Want to wear your yellow cap?" Rob asked him seeing the cap on the back seat.
"Aha," Danny said. As soon as the yellow cap was on his head, he showed more confidence.
Rob sat in the back with him, and the drive to town was over in no time. Soon they were walking down Main Street with its tourist attractions and quaint stores. Tourists were taking full advantage, and Rob wondered if the three of them seemed like tourists as well.
His ears sticking out from under his precious, yellow baseball cap, Danny looked all around and didn't seem too scared.
"I think he likes this better than a city street," Julian said.
"It's not as loud and the buildings aren't too big, right?" Rob asked Danny.
He nodded but he was preoccupied with looking around. Julian pointed out their destination up ahead just as a little blond girl came out the doors of the place called Peach Tree Café. She was holding the hand of a good-looking, young guy who was staring at his phone. The little blond girl smiled and waved at Danny. Hesitantly, Danny gave her a little wave in return.
"I guess there might be some kids here for you to play with," Rob said since the girl was only a little older than him.
Inside the café, it was bustling and it smelled really good. "I didn't realize it would be so busy," Julian said seeing that there were no free tables.
Rob was about to ask if they should get takeout, when an older, blond woman approached them.
"Julian Brenner," she said. "I saw your picture online, an article about some investment firm. You look even handsomer in person."
"Mrs. Del Rio," Julian said.
"The one and only," the woman said.
"Since when? Don't you have a daughter-in-law or something? Rico's mother?" a teenaged waitress asked her while holding a tray with only a bill and a credit card on it.
Rob wondered which table was about to become available while Mrs. Del Rio introduced the young waitress. "This is Hannah, and she's not wrong. There is that other Mrs. Del Rio, but I am the original. Hannah, this is the famous Julian Brenner." Mrs. Del Rio then noticed the same thing on Hannah's tray that Rob had noticed. "Looks like we're about to have a table for you."
"Nice to meet you Hannah," Julian said. "This is my assistant Rob Gerric."
"And whose kid is he?" Hannah jumped in to ask before Julian could introduce Danny.
"Danny is my brother," Julian said.
"Such a little brother, my goodness," Mrs. Del Rio said leaning down to smile at Danny. "Do you handsome guys think you might be hungry?"
Danny nodded and Julian agreed. "I guess we are."
