"Dad is taking an awful lot of time tonight"
"Sweetie, I think Dad is going to be a little late tonight"
Anjin looked at her mother with questioning looks, but, Martha didn't budge and passed a smile Anjin's way. Anjin kept staring at Martha, inciting Martha to spill the beans, but, Martha kept her lid shut. Martha finally broke her silence.
"I think you should get the cookie cutter now, we have enough batter for now"
"Okay, I will get the cookie cutter, but, you did not answer my question"
"I don't remember, you asking one, dear"
"Okay, you win, when is Dad coming home?"
"Well, you will have to wait and maybe you should open the door when he rings the bell"
Anjin made a pout and started for the utensils cabinet. As she was about to open the cabinet, Charlie snuck up behind her.
"Hey Sis, can I have some cookie dough?"
Anjin took a 180-degree turn and hid the cookie dough in the back pocket of her skirt.
"I'm afraid to inform you, but, we are out of cookie dough"
Anjin might be smarter than most of her peers, but, Charlie is also her elder brother. Charlie stared at her face and smiled crookedly. Anjin smiled back and was about to head back.
"Psych…. I got you"
Charlie tapped the lower part of her skirt pocket, as the cookie dough flung out of her pocket and was about to touch the floor, Charlie caught it mid-air and smirked. Anjin was both embarrassed and angry at the moment.
"You maybe smarter than others your age, but never forget I'm your mentor and I taught you all the tricks you know"
"I saved that for my midnight craving sessions"
"You can still have it, if you catch that is"
Anjin and Charlie started the car and mouse game over a piece of cookie dough. As both of them were running around the house, the door bell rang and Anjin remembered what her mother advised her a while back. Anjin gave up chasing Charlie and headed for the entrance door, as expected it was her Dad and he looked a little red around his cheeks, indicating he was tipsy.
As the door opened, David was found standing like an idiot and constantly smiling.
"Anjin, my dear, have some and share with your brother"
David handed Anjin some Reenes Peanut Butter Cups and stepped inside the house. Anjin held her hand high-up in order to tease Charlie. At first, Charlie did not know what was Anjin holding, but as soon as, he focused on her hand, he saw the peanut butter cups. He rushed to her in a second.
" My dear sister, I was just kidding with you"
"Yeah…. I know that"
Anjin smiled crookedly while saying this.
Charlie put his hand forward and showed the cookie dough on his right hand open palm.
"Here, you can have the cookie dough back"
"Actually, you can have the cookie dough…. I got my hands on a greater loot now"
"You sly fox"
And now, Anjin is the one with the prized possessions and Charlie is the one chasing after her around the house.
David with a little stumble and few pinky toe accidents made it to the kitchen, he snuck up behind Martha, who was cutting the dough into cookies with the cookie cutter, the one Anjin brought to her during Anjin and Charlie's cat and mouse shenanigans. David put his hands on the back of Martha's waist, he brought his face closer to her right ear and whispered.
"How bout' we upgrade our family of four to a family of five tonight"
Martha stopped her work and took a turn to face her husband, she smiled and whispered back.
"You don't need to bring this topic for naughty times in the bedroom, mister"
Both of them laughed and shared a passionate kiss. Then, David made Martha look at the dining table and Martha saw the fancy French wine bottle with the typical red ribbon knot. She kept looking and soon enough she came to tears, because, they were on such a shoe string budget, they could not afford such luxury since 3 years. David saw Martha in tears and he embraced her with a tight hug, wiped her tears and petted her head in order to comfort her.
"From now on, we will live a debt free decent life and we'll congratulate our new beginnings with the opening of this baby"