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“And you’re still alive to tell the tale?” Betty asked.

He chuckled. “She saw what I was doing and I’m sure she approved. I do need to use the bathroom. She did mention that you’re to treat me like a guest and offer me breakfast.”

Betty moved away from him, giving him a chance to go to the bathroom.

“She did?” Betty asked, a little shocked.

“No, she didn’t. She just said thank you, and I’ve been watching your cooking channel and I see what a star you are in the kitchen, and I want some breakfast. Consider it my payment.” He winked at her and Betty sighed.

“I can cook.”

He closed the bathroom door, and Betty scrambled off her bed and ran into one of the different bathrooms to use the bathroom, to quickly wash her hands, brush her teeth, and then run her fingers through her hair. She grabbed a clip and pinned her hair back, rushing downstairs, in the process forgetting her slippers. She didn’t like to walk barefoot around the house, but there was no time to grab the slippers. She rushed into her aunt’s kitchen to find Martha already there. Her aunt looked pretty, her hair pinned up, makeup on, and dressed for the country club.

When Andy first arrived, she knew Martha stopped most of her social functions with everything that happened. Now that Andy was gone, they were able to get their life back on track, and her aunt loved the country club. Betty had never been one for it. She liked her own space.

“Good morning,” she said.

“You’re looking well rested, my darling, and it is about time you did.”

“Grim has already told me that you’ve seen him, and I am so sorry. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

Martha waved her hand in front of her. “Stop that. There’s no need to even think about that right now. You needed to sleep, and you’ve finally slept, and that is all that matters.”

“You don’t have a problem with Grim being here?” Betty asked, grabbing the flour and sugar. She also spotted some chocolate chips that were half-full, so she grabbed them.

“I don’t mind at all. So long as you’re happy, I’m happy. You’re making him breakfast?” Martha asked.

“It is the least I can do. He stayed all night. He did say he slept, but even still, he stayed with me.” She didn’t want to think too much about it. He was being kind, and she appreciated his kindness.

She looked toward her aunt as she grabbed the eggs and milk from the fridge. “What?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“Come on, I know that look, and you’re scaring me.”

“He’s a good man, Betty, and I’m not going to lie, I’m starting to see that the Chaos Monsters MC men are all saints in disguise.” Martha let out a sigh. “If I was ten years younger...”

She smiled, because she knew her aunt usually said twenty-five years younger.

“I’m pretty sure you could still make all those men putty in your hands.”

Martha laughed and got to her feet. “That reminds me, I have an appointment tomorrow with the beautiful Maeve and Charlotte. I want you to join me.”

“Why?”

“It’s time for a makeover, and trust me, there is nothing better than delicious coffee, girl talk, and makeup. I will let Maeve know you’re going to be with us.” Her aunt moved toward her, gave her a hug, and was on her way. Betty didn’t get a chance to decline.

She usually did her own makeup, especially when she was filming, but mainly it was a little foundation, some concealer, blush, and lipstick. It was usually to stop her from looking washed out on the camera. On the videos she did with just her hands, she didn’t need to worry.

Betty got to work making some chocolate chip pancakes. There was maple syrup in the fridge, and she poured some into a saucepan, ready to heat up. She measured out the flour and sugar, along with the leavening agents, followed by some chocolate chips. She didn’t have to worry about them sinking as she cooked them a scoopful at a time.

Once the dry ingredients were done, she got to work on the wet, adding a couple of eggs, milk, some melted butter, and a splash of vanilla to a bowl. She gave it a good whisk, avoiding the splashes she always ended up making, and then adding this to her dry ingredients. She gave it a good stir, mixing it until it came together.

Grim finally came down after she got the first pancakes cooked. She already had the maple syrup warm, and she served him up a plateful. She had finished her second batch, and Grim looked like he wanted more, so she served him.

“Damn, you are a good cook,” he said.

This made her smile. She had always been a good cook. Her mother would make some odd comment about her weight and constantly being attracted to food, but right now, she was going to ignore that. Sometimes on her videos she would get the odd comment about her weight, but for the most part, it was all positive. She’d helped a lot of people get back into the love of cooking.