Page 66 of Almost Dead (The Cahills 2)

“Absolutely.”

“Dog-gie!” B.J. suddenly saw Coco and began wriggling like crazy to be set on the floor. “Dog-gie!”

She set him on his feet, and Beej, in footed pajamas, took off a little unsteadily after the dog. Coco barked, and the chase was on.

“I thought she was old,” Jack said.

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“Believe me…she’ll show her age pretty soon, and she’ll start hobbling and probably sleep the rest of the day.”

The doorbell rang, and Cissy glanced at Jack.

“Beats me,” he said to the unspoken question. Barefoot, he walked through the foyer and yanked open the door. Beej trotted after him.

Jannelle was standing on the front porch. Her eyes traveled up and down her brother’s half-dressed body, and her expression said it all: she was not pleased.

“Don’t tell me,” she said, not bothering to hide her disapproval. “You’re getting back together.”

It’s not what it looks like, Cissy wanted to deny. But Jack said, “Maybe.” Then, as he picked up his son, “Want a cup of coffee?”

Jannelle was shaking her head and ignoring her nephew. “No, I just came by because I left my sunglasses here, I think. They must’ve fallen out of my purse. I didn’t put it upstairs; I had it over here….” She walked into the nook and searched in the corner behind a potted plant. “Voila.” She glanced at Cissy’s state of undress. “You know, I tried to call and let you know I was dropping by, but you didn’t answer your cell.”

“Oh. I turned it off for yesterday’s service.”

“The landline works.” Jack placed B.J. in his high chair as Cissy found a box of Cheerios, poured some of the cereal into a small plastic bowl, then put the bowl on the tray of the high chair.

“I don’t have the house number in my contact list on my cell.” Jannelle looked at her brother again, shrugged, then slid her sunglasses onto the bridge of her nose. “I wish you guys would just make up your mind. Either you’re married, or you’re not.”

“We’re not divorced yet,” Jack said and then, as if to derail her, asked, “How’s Dad?” as Cissy searched in the cupboard for Beej’s sippy cup. She found it, but noticed that his tiny silver mug, the one that Eugenia had engraved with his name and birth date, wasn’t where it usually sat. Strange. She knew she’d seen it just the other day, but she didn’t have time to search for it now. Instead, she took the sippy cup from the shelf and poured a little milk into it.

All the while, Cissy ignored her sister-in-law’s comments. Jannelle, who took being the older sister to the nth, had always butted in. Her remarks were always pointed, always full of judgment.

Jannelle’s brow furrowed as she glanced around the house through her glasses. “Talk about smudged.” She yanked off the shades and polished them with the hem of her sweater. “I haven’t talked to Dad today, but I imagine he’s got one helluva hangover. He’s probably still sleeping it off.” She slid the glasses on again, and once more swung her head, testing the clarity of the lenses. “By the time J.J. and I poured him into his condo, he was feeling no pain.” Her eyebrows shot up over the rims of her designer sunglasses. “I mean no pain.”

Jack offered, “I’ll call him later.”

“Do that.”

As Coco patrolled the kitchen, B.J. picked up several Cheerios, put one in his mouth, and, grinning, tossed several over the side of the tray.

“No,” Cissy admonished.

“No!” He pounded on the tray. “No!”

Beneath the highchair, Coco was ready, sniffing and eating whatever little tidbit fell to the floor.

“How about J.J.? Did he get home okay?” Jack asked.

Jannelle lifted a shoulder. “How should I know? He kept yammering about all the ‘hotties’ who he’d met here. I thought he might show up again, you know, and start asking for phone numbers and e-mail addresses.” She made a face. “I don’t really think he understood the gravity of the situation. I dropped him off at Dad’s since his car was there, and I assumed he went home, but then again, I don’t know, and it’s really none of my business.” She was already heading for the door. “I’ll see you around. Keep me posted, will ya? Once you decide whether you’re going to stay married or not?”

“You’ll be the first to know,” Jack said dryly, following her barefoot to the vestibule. “Well…right after Cissy and me. I think we should get the info first.”

“Funny man,” she said.

He held the door for her, and once she was over the threshold, swung it shut. “She didn’t even say ‘hi’ to Beej,” he observed.

“I noticed.”

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