Family Ties — читать онлайн бесплатно полностью

And if you’re the reason…” He smiled and spread his hands.

“I think you’re solid.” He laughed and opened the screen door.

The house was dark and quiet, so I decided to enjoy a hot shower while I could. Danny grabbed his toiletry kit and headed toward another of the house’s four bathrooms.

Anne was in the kitchen when I returned wearing only a towel around my waist.

“Uh, sorry,” I said lamely.

“You’re fine,” she said with a smile. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, thanks. Woke up early, though.”

“You’re still on Eastern time.

“Yeah. Danny too. So we went for a run and then watched the sunrise.”

She was about to say something else when the pre-teen girls streamed into the kitchen, all still in their pajamas. None of them seemed the least bit bothered at how I was dressed.

“Good morning, Grandma,” Virginia said. “Can we help with breakfast?”

“Of course, dears!” Anne gave me a smile and turned her attention to the girls. “I know… let’s make cinnamon rolls.” She gathered them at the counter and started taking down ingredients.

I went out to the porch and made up my cot. Danny returned from his own shower, and I asked about the dress code.

“We’re pretty laid-back,” he said. “Jeans are fine. Chinos. Whatever.”

He was in a good mood after his run, so he told me about his plan to ask Sabrina to marry him. He was so naturally likable that I found myself getting excited too.

We eventually decided to head inside, where we discovered a whirlwind of food and family. In addition to the cinnamon rolls, the girls were making fresh orange juice, a couple of pounds of sausage, and a huge hash brown casserole.

I asked what I could help with, but Anne told me to go into the dining room. Harold was there with coffee and the newspaper. He was wearing pinstriped pajamas under a navy blue robe with “Granddad” embroidered in gold thread on the breast.

“Morning, Pop,” Danny said.

“Morning, Danny.” He glanced over his reading glasses at me. “Morning, Paul. Did you sleep well?”

“Good to hear. Coffee’s on the buffet,” he said with a nod.

Danny picked up a cup and saucer and held them out to me.

“No thanks.” I sat down and tried not to fidget with nothing to do.

Harold noticed out of the corner of his eye. He folded the main section of his newspaper and slid it across to me. Then he found the sports pages and pulled them out.