A Baumgartner reunion

Thankfully, Henry’s attention had been diverted from his sister lately to a certain spirited redhead. “Speaking of, Gretchen, will you go find out if Henry wants some of Ronnie’s special pancakes?”

“My god, girl, your hands are incredible,” TJ moaned, glancing over his shoulder at a beaming Janie.

Smiling and humming to myself, I began to pour batter onto the hot griddle, pretending I didn’t notice the way Janie pressed her breasts against TJ’s back as she massaged his shoulders. It wasn’t long before the whole family was filling the kitchen, all clamoring for pancakes-even Doc and Carrie, who usually didn’t care for the all-out sugar-fest that was Ronnie’s Special Pancakes. I even made one for myself, not even calculating the serious amount of calories of the thing in my head before sitting next to TJ at the table and digging in.

“These are evil on a plate,” Henry said, his mouth full.

“Poor man’s crepes,” I said with a laugh, taking another bite. They were just huge, thin pancakes, rolled up with applesauce and cinnamon sugar inside, topped with whipped cream and more cinnamon sugar.

“Oh my god, I can’t even finish this,” Carrie sat back with a laugh as Doc made a grab for her plate.

“I think I’ll indulge,” Doc said with a grin, starting in on hers.

“Okay, now we all need to go for a swim to work off the calories,” Gretchen remarked from where she was putting her plate in the sink.

“Aren’t you supposed to wait half an hour before going swimming?” I laughed.

“That’s such an old wive’s tale.” Gretchen rolled her eyes. “So who’s with me?”

“Me!” Janie jumped up from where she was sitting on the other side of TJ.

She nudged him, “Coming?”

TJ nodded, swallowing a bite of his half-eaten pancake concoction. “Sure, in a minute.”

Henry, Gretchen, Janie and Doc went upstairs to change into suits while Carrie started to clear the dishes.

“I’ll get it,” I told her. “I was the one who made the mess!” She waved me away, smiling. “The cook needs to eat, too.”

“Missed you last night,” TJ murmured, sliding an arm around my waist and pulling me close.

“Missed you, too.” I smiled, watching Carrie at the sink, washing dishes.

“But no one wanted to wake you…”

His breath was warm against my ear, close. “I wish you had.”

“Patience.” I nudged him with my hip, glancing down at his now empty plate. “Are you going swimming?”

“Why not?” He picked up his plate, carrying it toward the sink. “What’s the point of vacationing on the beach if you’re not gonna swim, right?”

“Towels are in the linen closet upstairs,” Carrie told him, taking his plate.

“You coming?” TJ asked on his way by.

“In a few minutes.” I pointed to my half-eaten breakfast. “You go ahead.” I winked at him. “Have fun.” My message was unmistakable and I could have sworn he actually blushed as he turned, going to get his suit on. That made me smile.

Then it was just me and Mrs. B. She’d finished the dishes and poured herself a cup of coffee, joining me at the table.

“I like him,” she said, sitting across from me and stirring a spoonful of Splenda into her cup. “He’s good for you.”

“Yeah.” I laughed. “I kinda like him, too.” I glanced across the table at her, knowing it was now or never. This was the best opportunity I was going to get.

“Can I talk to you?”

She looked at me over the rim of her cup, her eyes unreadable. “Sure.

What’s up?”

I had no idea how to proceed, so I just said it, impulsively, the thing I was thinking, the thing I wanted. “Would you mind if Janie moved to New York with me and TJ?”

She blinked at me, setting her cup down slowly. “Say that again?” I didn’t. Instead, I tried to explain. “We’re moving to New York at the end of this school year. TJ found a consulting job out there that will pay him double what he’s making now, and I got a position in a private school,” I said in a rush. “Only, I worried about what to do with Beth. We have no family out there, and I hate the thought of putting our daughter into daycare…”

“You want Janie to move to New York to be a nanny?” Carrie raised her eyebrows at me, taking another sip of her coffee.

“Not exactly.” I cleared my throat. Not exactly, indeed. “I thought…well…” I changed direction. “Did you know Janie writes?”

“Sure.” Carrie leaned back in her chair, looking at me. “She’s written stories since she was little.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “But have you read anything she’s written lately?”

“Not…well, I guess, not for a few years.” She cocked her head at me, frowning. “Why?”

“Because she’s good.” I leaned forward in my chair. “She’s really good, Carrie. And a girl with that kind of talent needs an agent. She needs a New York agent.”

Carrie shook her blonde head, pursing her lips. “Publishing is such a long shot.”

I nodded. “But TJ knows people. Lots of people,” I told her. “That’s how he got the job he did in the first place. He’s got connections you wouldn’t believe.”

“What about school?” she asked, although I could tell she was more than considering it now. She looked cautiously hopeful.