Page 15 of Griffin
"Nah, I don't mind the couch."
Her phone rang, and she put up a finger to let me know she needed to answer it. Mom and Aunt Britton had started their own real estate brokerage and after some struggles and a few tears getting it off the ground, it was finally starting to take off. It also meant she was busy a lot, on the phone, showing houses, talking to clients. I knew Dad was proud of her, and at the same time, I sensed he was feeling a little neglected.
Jules shrieked in the kitchen.
I hurried in. "Did you burn yourself?" I asked before I spotted her clutching her phone and scrolling wildly through it. It was just some shriek-worthy social media post.
Mom dashed into the kitchen, too, with the same question about getting burned.
Jules finally pulled her attention from her phone and shook her head. "I do know how to use a stove without burning myself."
"Well, you screamed," Mom said.
Dad's loud steps pounded down the stairs. "Why did Jules scream?" he asked as he reached the kitchen.
Jules stared at all of us. "Seriously, you people all need to get a life."
I chuckled. "We need to get a life? You just about caused all of us heart attacks because you read some ridiculous social media post and reacted with a scream."
"It was more of a shocked shriek, and it was not ridiculous. It was a stunner. Roxi Carhill, better known as the Banana Bandana, because she always wears a yellow bandana, was in Zion with her partner, Toby Barron, and she caught him making out with one of the forest rangers."
"Man or woman?" Dad asked.
Jules shrugged. "Good question. She didn't go into details, but she's devastated, and they're breaking up."
Dad looked over at mom. "Are these people we know personally?"
Jules huffed. "Sort of. I mean I've been following them for like two years, so I feel this breakup right here." She touched her chest. Jules was super level-headed about most things … most of the time. Jules spun around to pour more batter onto the griddle.
My dad was still confused. "Roxi is a lifestyle influencer," Mom explained. "They travel all over the country and world and post pretty photos of themselves for people to comment on."
"Way to make it sound silly. They're a little more than that, Mom," Jules said without turning around from her task. "There's a stack ready for whoever wants it."
Dad looked at me to let me know that stack was his. I waved my hand toward the plate.
The four of us sat down at the table, something we rarely did anymore for breakfast. Mom seemed to be holding back a grin, but Dad was too involved with his stack of pancakes to notice.
"Good news, Mom?" I asked.
Her smile broke free. My mom had one of those light-up-a-room smiles. "Now that you ask, Fin."
Dad finally looked up from his plate of food.
"We sold that giant house. The owners just accepted the offer of 2.5 million."
"Holy shit, Mom," I said.
"Was it that older couple from France?" Jules asked. She worked in the brokerage office with Mom and Aunt Britton.
"It sure was. It's still early in the process, and there are many hoops to jump through, but it's a cash offer, so that takes away one hurdle."
Dad shook his head. "Can you imagine being able to offer cash on a multi-million-dollar house?"
"Maybe someday," Mom said with a teasing wink.
Dad reached over, took her hand and kissed it. "I knew I'd won the lottery when you pulled me in for that kiss in the bar."
Jules had heard far less than me about my parents' somewhat wild early days. She picked up her glass of orange juice. "What kiss? Do tell, please."
