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Sarah nodded, accepting the change in topic. "It's only nine o'clock so it probably won't be for awhile. I wonder if we'll get breakfast?"
I rolled my eyes. "Somehow I get the feeling that we'll be getting the full spread. I wouldn't be surprised if a butler buttered my bread for me."
Sarah giggled and the mood was lightened. We walked downstairs and I forced myself to not look back down the hallway, towards where I assumed Simon's room was.
We wandered around downstairs, getting lost in all the rooms when I heard a young girl's voice squealing with enthusiasm.
"Hi guys!" a girl exclaimed, rushing over towards us. She was beautiful with long brown hair and large brown eyes that dominated a perfectly heart shaped face. She was smiling widely at us. She skidded to a halt before us and studied me, her eyes gleaming. "You must be Caitlin!"
I nodded my head, smiling back. This must be Simon's sister and her good cheer was infectious. "You must be Kendra. Happy Birthday!"
"I'm starting to get offended. Everyone seems to know who you are but no one knows who I am." Despite her words, Sarah's voice sounded amused.
Kendra looked crestfallen at Sarah's words, not realizing she was joking. "Oh, I'm sorry! I know who you are! You're Caitlin's roommate, right?"
Sarah laughed loudly. "Well, I guess that's something. I'm Sarah. Happy Birthday!"
Kendra hugged us both enthusiastically. "I'm so excited you guys could come for my birthday. I'm super excited about my party tonight. My mom said I could go all out on makeup. Usually my dad is so annoying, only letting me wear lip gloss. But not tonight!" Kendra looked gleeful at the prospect and I studied this extension of Simon. I had seen his darker side, but Kendra was everything light and good about Simon. I instantly liked her.
"Are you guys hungry?" Kendra chattered. "I was just heading over to breakfast. Let's go!"
"Already trying to steal my guests away from me, Kendra?" I heard Simon's amused voice behind me.
"Simon!" Kendra screeched, running towards him. "You jerk! It's been forever since you've come home to visit!" Despite her words, she flung herself at Simon and he caught her in an easy hug, smiling at her indulgently. As he set her down and wished her a happy birthday, Simon glanced over at me and I smiled. I had always ached for a sibling growing up and that desire was reinforced seeing their easy affection.
"My sister can be a lot to take in the morning. She doesn't seem to have an off button."
Kendra pretended to look offended but then her face broke out in a smile. "Come on," she said, tugging on his arm. "I was just showing them to breakfast. Mom had Maxine put out a spread and I'm starving."
As we followed Kendra, Simon wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed the top of my head. "Good morning," he said, as if we hadn't seen each other earlier.
I smiled and looked up at him, returning the greeting. I caught Sarah's eyebrows lifting in surprise but I decided to ignore it for the moment. She would kill me for not telling her earlier about what had happened last night, but I just wanted to keep the moment mine a little while longer. It was a thrilling secret just between Simon and I that gave me a warm glow.
Maxine had indeed put out a spread. When we stepped into the dining room, a long sideboard against the wall held all different types of breakfast food, from bagels to french toast and every type of egg preparation you could imagine.
"This is like staying at a fancy hotel," Sarah said, eyeing the food. "You Crewes know how to live."
"It's never like this," Kendra complained. "Usually we just fend for ourselves in the morning. It's only for special guests." She glanced over at me and then gave Simon a sly grin. He rolled his eyes at her. I pretended not to notice the exchange and accepted the plate Simon handed to me and went down the buffet.
I filled my plate with scrambled eggs, bacon and a piece of toast. I watched in amazement as Simon piled his plate high with half the things on the buffet.
"How can you possibly eat all that?" I asked, aghast.
"This is just my first serving. Savory first. Sweet second." Simon's plate was filled with eggs, bacon, sausage and home fries. And a large slice of blueberry crumble bread. Simon followed my gaze. "Well, except for that," he said with a grin. "The only way I could pass that up is if there were garbage cookies here."
"Garbage cookies?" Kendra asked, overhearing our conversation. She placed her filled plate on a table setting and sat down. "What the heck are those?"
Sarah answered for Simon as she sat next to Kendra with her own full plate. "They're these amazing cookies Caitlin makes. I don't know what she puts in them but they're addictive. I love it and hate it when she makes them because I can't stop eating them until they're gone."
Kendra's eyes sparkled in excitement as she looked at me. "Can you make them for me?"
"Kendra," Simon said with amusement. "Caitlin didn't come here to bake cookies for you."
Kendra pouted as she started eating and I laughed at her expression. "I promise I'll make them for you one day."
Her face brightened at my words and then she turned to scowl at Simon. "I wasn't asking her to make them today," she said disdainfully. "And she said she'd make them for me someday, so there."
Simon just smiled at his sister and then looked up as Maxine entered the dining room.
