Chapter 8

The Saturday morning sunshine lit the bedroom, waking the girls. “I really need to get some blackout curtains,” Brandi muttered.

Standing, she managed to get to the bathroom. Crunchy was looking up at her in the manner of all cats not allowing their humans a moment of privacy. “I don’t watch you when you’re in the litter box. Scoot!” A few moments later, she was done and neatened herself up. Lupe was shuffling down the hall. “All yours!”

How are you feeling?”

“Really stiff. I guess nearly ten hours of sleep was good, but now my body is saying a hot soak will be welcomed.”

“I will start the water. Maybe call your parents to say come over for lunch?”

“Yeah! We can take them to the Cantina on Pine street. They will love it!”

The Cantina was a delightful place that served true Mexican food, and the menu had items that most folks north of the border had never encountered before. Brandi would joke that she was addicted to their fish tacos that were tremendous. The meal was two enormous soft tacos the size of a grapefruit, with rice and refried beans and cilantro. She would eat one of the tacos, half of the rest, and take the remaining food home for lunch the next day.

“But I think maybe I will just text them since it’s still early and I’m not sure if they’re up yet.”

Within a minute of the text being sent, Danielle replied and said that was fine. Returning to the bathroom, she took off her sleep shirt and shimmied down her panties. “Could you please hold my hand for balance when I step into the tub?”

“Certainly. I put some epsom salts in the water for you. Oh...” Turning toward Brandi, she saw her fully naked form, for the first time. The slender waist, the the pert 34B breasts and, “I didn’t know you were bare.”

“Yup. Started shaving when I was around 14 or so. I like how it looks and trust me, If I don’t keep up on it, I look like a Wookie!”

Lupe just nodded, but thought to herself; “Muy bonita.”

Lunch was fantastic. After the meal, Brandi insisted that if she was allowed to rest occasionally, she could manage to stroll through the downtown district that had all the cute antique stores and curiosity shops. Pausing at a bench, she heard a voice call out. “Miss Brandi! How are you feeling? We heard what had happened the other day and everyone is concerned!”

“I’m fine, Padre. Just a little shook up. But I think I will need to buy a new bicycle.” She turned to her parents. “Mom? Dad? This is Father Xavier, from Saint Anne’s, the church we attend.”

Handshakes were exchanged. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mister and Missus Winters. Your daughter has been making quite an impact, oh, sorry, poor choice of words. Quite a positive impression on our community. Her efforts to increase donations to our local food banks are greatly appreciated! The program she created has not just the Lodi IGA involved, but stores from Sacramento to Stockton.”