Free Three of Hearts by W. Ferraro

the appropriate lover etiquette? As she tried to reason it out, Lynne opened the door.
    “Well good morning Sweet Mae. How are you this fine Saturday?”
    Mae answered, “I’m wonderful. How are you?”
    Lynne smiled kindly and said, “well I woke up this morning, so it could be worse.” And then she winked at Mae.
    “How true you are.”
    Mae followed Lynne to the kitchen, where a large amount of food was spread temptingly on the counter. There were hamburgers and hot dogs, steaks and crab legs, a variety of produce and enough condiments to feed a small army.
    “What’s all this?” Mae asked.
    “Hey Mae” Aidan said from the couch. “That’s all the food for the barbeque we are having today. Dad has invited everyone.” Well, this was news to Mae.
    “Let me guess, Seth didn’t tell you.” Lynne said with a motherly sigh.
    “No he didn’t, he doesn’t need to run anything by me though.”
    However, mentioning it would have been nice she thought.
    Just then Seth came down the stairs and saw Mae. She looked mouthwatering. She was dressed casually enough, but her body just shouted sex appeal. He dreamed of all they did last night, desperate to get her back under, over, on him again.
    “Morning honey.” He came to her side and kissed her on her forehead.
    Even with the feeling of being left out, she couldn’t help but smile at him
    “Hello, Mr. Finn. I was invited to sample Seth Finn’s famous waffles.”
    “That you were.” He leaned into her ear and whispered “I thought of you all last night. My bed was quite lonely.” He gave her a soft kiss on her temple and went to the kitchen to start waffle prep.
    “Oh Lynne, you are a dream come true.” Seth leaned over and kissed Lynne on the top of her head.
    “Seth Finn if you are dreaming about me because I get everything on the grocery list, then you need a hobby.” Lynne teased.
    “I dream of you in hopes that you will leave that no good, fish smelling husband of yours and run off with me,” Seth said, grabbing Lynne’s hand and placing it over her heart.
    Lynne turned red and swatted at Seth. The both laughed and Seth gave Lynne another kiss.
    Mae had never seen Seth so playful. Just then Seth looked at her and winked.
    Seth made quick work of the waffles. Everything was ready and on the table when Seth asked Aidan where Megan was.
    “I don’t know. I’m not her keeper.”
    Seth looked to Conner. “Have you seen her?”
    “No, I haven’t.”
    Lynne looked at Seth with concern and said “I haven’t seen her since she came down for a glass of juice. That was over 90 minutes ago.”
    Mae watched as the Finn’s looked around for Megan. Conner ran up to Megan’s room, Aidan searched the remaining downstairs.
    “Seth, where could she be?” Mae asked.
    Seth gave her hand a squeeze and said “she does this quite often. She hides and thinks it is a game. My little spitfire best have not gone too far.”
    Even though Seth seemed relaxed, Mae could tell there were equal parts anger and concern stirring in him over his missing daughter.
    Seth and Conner decided to try some of her tried and true hiding spots out in the yard. Aidan looked in the garage and Lynne looked through the house once again.
    Mae checked the decks and gazebo, with no luck. Where could she be? Just then Mae had a thought. She quickly climbed the stairs to her apartment and went in. She climbed the stairs to her bedroom and opened the closet door. Sitting under a row of folded sweaters was Megan. She was sitting with her legs crossed and her back against the wall. Her Hello Kitty pajamas were wrinkled and the buttons were lopsided.
    Mae went to the balcony, opened the door and stepped out. Seth and Conner were each in one of the boats looking under the seats.
    “Seth!” At the sound of Mae’s voice Seth looked up, the concern she saw on his face had increased tenfold.
    “She’s up here. We will be done in a minute.” She prayed he would be relieved and give Mae a moment