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“Her name’s Sierra and she’s super pretty,” his sister says animatedly.
“Madison, you think everyone is pretty,” her brother grumbles.
“Because everyone is pretty. But Sierra’s really pretty. Same as Juliette.”
“Aw, that’s sweet, Mads,” I tell her.
Madison has a habit of looking at life through rose-colored lenses. It’s adorable and I really hope nothing makes her change her outlook on life. She’s too innocent for this world.
“So, Mason, you think Sierra’s pretty? She certainly has a pretty name.”
His cheeks are so pink right now I can’t help but smile. I’m sure their father would be pleased to find out he has a crush. He’s so worried that Mason won’t be able to have normal experiences, but a crush falls sorely in the normal category. I’m glad.
“She is pretty and she has nice eyes.”
I listen attentively as he tells me all about her. Sierra has curly black hair, brown eyes, medium brown complection, and a pretty smile. She’s also kind and brave. She helped out a boy that was bullied in class even though no one else offered to. Mason was a little embarrassed as he recounted that part of the story. At least he knows it was wrong not to help the kid. Not to put himself in danger but at least get help.
As we’re setting up for an early lunch, Xander walks into the kitchen.
“Hey, guys,” he says, his eyes sweeping over the mess we’ve created in the kitchen and the food that’s currently being prepared.
“Hi, Daddy. How was your run?” Madison asks.
He wasn’t kidding when he said he liked to run. I just wish he didn’t have to do it every time I came over. The sight of his muscular arms is a little too much for me. It takes me a second before I work up the courage to look him in the eye. He’s already staring at me, intensely.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Landers,” he says with a small smile.
I incline my head. “Mr. Callahan.”
I’m not sure why we’re suddenly acting so formally, but I go along with it.
“I’ll just go change and join you,” he says before walking away.
The kids continue talking about some show but I’m barely listening. Xander reappears just as the food is ready and the four of us get to work on setting the table. The Callahans don’t have any help living with them in the house. Apart from their extensive security detail, there’s usually no one but the family on the premises.
It probably has to do with privacy. Xander’s a man that prefers his alone time. They do have a housekeeping service on hand, and a chef that comes over whenever they need food prepared, but apart from that, it’s just them. The way he’s loaded, I would have thought they had a butler and maids and whatnot running around, but that’s not how the Callahans live.
We have our meals in silence. No one says a word until we’re done. I don’t mind, that’s how most of my family meals were as a child. Except as a child, my dining table was filled with stiff awkwardness. Here, it’s more quiet and soothing.
“Thank you for the meal, Julie,” Mason says once we’re done.
“Thanks, Julie,” Madison adds.
Xander gives me a small smile.
“It was my pleasure.”
The kids help me clean up. They stop me from doing the dishes, however.
“You don’t need to. We have people for that,” Xander says firmly.
I pout. “But it’ll only take a few minutes.”
“It’s fine. No one likes doing dishes, anyway,” Mason states.
A glint appears in his father’s eyes. “How about you do the dishes, Mase?”
The look that appears on Mason’s face is comical.
