Free More than a Maid by Reeni Austin Page B

descended the stairs on her way to the kitchen. The house was already alive with energetic voices and the rich smell of coffee.
    Instead of going straight to the kitchen, she sneaked down the hall, listening outside Ramon's office. The door was shut but she heard his muffled voice.
    And she felt like an idiot for smiling.
    Heck, why did she care if she got to see him again for another minute? It wasn't long enough to matter.
    Marcy shook it off and headed to the kitchen, refusing to analyze her feelings and resolving right then to just let herself be happy. Maybe she deserved to have a good time with a hot guy, for once. "No strings attached" may be the smartest thing she ever did.
    When she entered the kitchen, everyone but Isaac stopped talking. He sat at the island beside Victor, both of them eating cereal. Tom and Patty hovered near the stove.
    "Good morning, everyone," Marcy said as she made a beeline for the coffee pot. "Where's Cara?"
    "Sleeping," Victor said.
    "Okay." Marcy went for the biggest mug she saw in the cabinet. She was a little sleepy but it was nothing an enormous serving of coffee couldn't fix.
    She soon heard footsteps enter the kitchen and her pulse quickened. Was it him?
    Her question was answered when Isaac, his mouth partially filled with cereal, said, "Wuh-moan!"
    Marcy kept her back to him, determined to act like nothing happened, even though she was glowing inside.
    Tom said, "Nice to see you. You're usually long gone by now."
    Ramon chuckled. "Yeah, figured I deserve to sleep in once in a blue moon."
    Isaac dropped his spoon into his cereal bowl with a clang and said, "Did you find the cannoh-wee?"
    "Huh?" Ramon asked as he walked to the coffee pot. "Did I find what?"
    Marcy turned around to see Isaac's little blond eyebrows formed a frustrated line.
    "The cannoh-wee!" Isaac said. "Did you find it? Gwammah said you two was somewheh pwayin' hide the cannoh-wee."
    Marcy's cheeks were instantly warm, now realizing why everyone stopped talking when she entered the room. She left her mug on the counter and stared straight down at the floor, determined not to look at Ramon… or anyone else.
    Ramon stifled a laugh as he reached into the cupboard for his gigantic mug. "Don't know what to tell ya, hombrecito . I probably wouldn't know what a cannoli was if I found it."
    Victor smirked and shot a mean look at Patty, then Marcy, then at the back of Ramon's head. He placed a gentle hand on Isaac's back. "You should probably finish eating your cereal before it gets soggy."
    Isaac nodded enthusiastically. "I wike cannoh-wee, but I wike cake bettow." He frowned and asked in a pleading voice, "If you guys find the cannoh-wee can I have it?"
    Patty rushed to Isaac, walking up behind him to give him a hug. "I'll tell you what, sweetie. Today, I'll make a whole batch of cannoli just for you, because you're such a good boy." She kissed his cheek.
    Isaac gasped, then smiled at his grandmother. "Okay!"
    With quiet anger in his voice, Victor leaned back to look at Patty without Isaac seeing his face. "Hey Grandma, why don't you make him a cake instead? Then we don't have to discuss cannoli again today."
    "Oh," Patty whispered, her lips forming a circle as Victor's words took root. She hugged Isaac again and said, "I'm gonna make you the best chocolate cake in the world."
    Isaac's face fell. "But Wuh-moan—"
    Marcy interrupted him, finally lifting her eyes from the floor. "Isaac, honey, there was no cannoli. I'm sorry. Grandma was wrong about that."
    Isaac's lips formed a distinct pout.
    Victor patted Isaac's arm and said, "Hey, why don't you go upstairs and see if Mommy's awake yet? And then stay in the bedroom and wait for me. We'll leave for daycare in a little while."
    "Okay." Isaac hopped off the stool and hurried out of the kitchen.
    Victor glared at Patty. "You know he hears everything ."
    Patty said, "Yes, I know. I'm sorry."
    Ramon gave Marcy a quick glance then asked everyone, "Did I miss something?"
    Tom