Page 122 of Letters to Molly (Maysen Jar 2)

“And to think when I dropped the kids off at school this morning, I thought how nice it would be to spend my day with adults.”

Jimmy snapped his fingers in the air, pointing to his empty jar of chili.

“That is not how we order food in this restaurant,” Poppy snapped.

He sent her a pleading stare, glancing at Randall’s collection of jars. He was winning by one chili and a triple-berry crisp.

“No.” Poppy crossed her arms over her chest.

“I got you, Jimmy.” Cole went to the refrigerated display case at our sides and grabbed a chili from the top shelf. “Hot?”

Jimmy shook his head and waved Cole over.

“You are not helping, Detective.” Poppy glared at her husband.

His shoulders shook with silent laughter. “It’s too late now. We might as well see which one of them gives up first.”

Cole was the reason Jimmy and Randall had gotten the idea to start this whole ordeal. He’d come down to eat lunch at The Maysen Jar with Poppy. Apparently, they’d had some physical testing thing at the police department today, and he’d been cutting back carbs for a couple weeks to prepare. With the test complete, and reveling in his dietary freedom, Cole had inhaled two jars of mac ’n’ cheese like a kid who’d been given permission to devour his pillowcase of Halloween candy.

Seeing Cole eat so fast had triggered Jimmy’s and Randall’s animal instincts.

I could eat a jar faster than that.

I could eat two jars faster than you could eat one.

Then Cole had chimed in with the brilliant idea to have a contest.

One jar had led to two, then three.

When Poppy and I had both adamantly refused to serve them another jar of anything, Cole had come behind the counter and assumed the role of supplier.

“I can’t watch.” Poppy turned her back to the counter.

I did the same. We could still hear silver spoons scraping glass jars, but at least this way we didn’t have to see the idiots make themselves sick.

“Do you guys have any plans this weekend?” I asked Poppy. “I was thinking about kidnapping MacKenna and Brady on Saturday night. With everything that happened this summer, I feel like I didn’t get to spend much time with them. Max and Kali will be with Finn so if you and Cole want a date night, I volunteer as babysitter.”

She didn’t hesitate. “Done. We’ll bring them over around six.”

“Perfect.” I smiled. It would be nice to spoil them rotten—and have them so I wasn’t home alone.

Ma

x and Kali had been at Finn’s place two nights this past week and it had been torture. With them gone a few nights each week and back in school, my house was too quiet.

Though Randall and Jimmy’s antics had gone beyond the spectrum of crazy today, I’d needed it. I’d needed a good day at work and to remember the life I’d built post-divorce.

“What else is on the docket for today?” I asked Poppy.

She glanced over her shoulder then rolled her eyes. “I hadn’t planned to restock macaroni and cheese until tomorrow, but I’d better do it today instead.”

“Chili too,” Cole added. When she shot him a glare, he held up his hands. “What? It’s almost gone. Jimmy’s on three. Randall only two. I do feel sorry for the residents on their floor tonight. That’s going to stink.”

I coughed to cover up a laugh.

Poppy pulled her lips in to hide a smile.

This is exactly what I need today.