Page 192 of The Vacation Mix-Up
“What is it?” she asks, bouncing in my arms.
“Poppy,” Roni playfully scolds, “Uncle Riley just got home. Be patient.”
“But I want to see my present. What is it?”
I boop her nose with mine. “Soon, I promise.”
Roni holds her arm out to relieve me of my niece, but I swing Poppy away from her and lean forward instead, kissing my sister’s cheek. I’m not yet ready to put her down, which will no doubtchange in roughly five minutes when she doesn’t stop asking me about her gift.
“So, how was it?” Roni asks, stepping past me into the entryway hall.
“Yeah. Good.” I gesture to the baking dish in her hand. “What’s that?”
She cocks one eyebrow. “What do you think it is?”
Smiling like a son who adores his mother’s cooking, I set Poppy down to help Mom up the steps to my front door. “Are those cheesesteaks?”
Mom hands me the baking dish she’s carrying, then pulls me close to kiss my forehead. “And a Shoofly pie.”
“Mom!” I reciprocate the kiss. “You’re the best.”
“Can’t have my boy come home to no food, can I?”
I link my arm with hers and lead her into the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please, dear.”
“Sit down,” my sister orders. “I’ll do it. You must be exhausted.”
“Thanks. I am.” I take a seat, and Poppy instantly climbs onto my lap.
“So how was your cruise?” Mom asks.
I glance at Roni and smile. “It was exactly what I needed.”
She twiddles her fingers on the countertop. “Did you sow your wild oats like I suggested?”
“Veronica!” Mom scolds.
“What? That was the whole point of his cruise.”
“It wasn’t,” I correct her. “But yes, I did meet someone.”
Mom’s shocked face gleams. “You did?”
“Do tell.” Roni sets down the mugs and eagerly leans over the counter.
“She lives in Manhattan. She’s thirty-two, and her name is… wait for it…” I grin and tickle Poppy. “Riley. Riley Wilson.”
“What?” Roni squawks. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not. We were booked into the same cabin by mistake.”
My mother and my sister’s heads snap toward each other before snapping back to me. “How on earth did that happen?” Mom asks.
“I don’t know, but I’m glad it did, because we shared our room for the entire cruise.”
“Uncle Riley?—”
