The New Girl

Chapter 26

Early the next morning Andrea got up and started a healthy breakfast of fresh cut fruit, scrambled eggs, toast, juice, milk and plenty of turkey bacon. She put the eggs and turkey in the oven to stay warm then she went downstairs to let Donner and Ethan know. She stood on the steps just out of sight and asked, “Are you two decent?” Donner laughed and replied, “Yes.” Andrea made her way down the rest of the stairs and around the corner and found both Donner and Ethan fully dressed and ready for their day, whatever that consisted of. “I made breakfast. Don't say no because it's already made and waiting for you. Did you two sleep well?” Ethan nodded and said, “Don't know about Donner but I slept like a baby.” Donner smiled and replied, “He'd sleep like a baby in the middle of a tsunami and a tornado all at once.” Andrea laughed, “Funny how kids are like that.”

They all came upstairs and found Lyric setting at the table nibbling on a slice of cantaloupe, she shrugged her shoulder's and said, “I couldn't wait, sorry.” Everyone laughed and Andrea told Donner and Ethan to have a set while she got the rest of the food out of the oven. With everything on the table everyone started to dig in. They ate in silence a few moment's until Andrea asked, “So what's everyone's plan today?” Lyric and Ethan shrugged their shoulder's and Donner said, “I need to go over to the house and look around. I don't think the fire chief was correct in how the fire started.” Andrea looked at him concerned, “What do you mean?” “The chief said that the grill was setting to close to the house, I know better then that.” He looked at Ethan, “You didn't move it after we left did you?” Ethan shook his head, “No, after you guys left I went to the kitchen to clean everything up then took a shower and went to bed and was reading until Lyric came in shouting my name.”

Donner nodded and said, “I wasn't accusing you of anything, I just had to make sure no one moved that grill after I got done with it.” Ethan nodded back and said, “I understand.” “Fire is one thing that really scares me so I always make sure the grill is out at the far end of the deck so it's not setting near the house. Even when it's not in use it stays there. I also make sure the coals are completely out by dousing them with water and spreading the coals out just to make sure they are out. Then I shut the lid and vent so there is no air that can start them back up. That fire did not start because of me,” Donner said.

Lyric looked at Donner and asked, “So your saying someone moved the grill and started it to make it look like an accident?” Donner nodded at her and replied, “Yup, that's what I'm saying. Lyric you need to really think about what you saw or heard when you were near the house. It could be something that really didn't stand out or that you payed to much attention to. I'm not saying that you saw or heard anything but sometimes people don't recognize something important because their worried about someone or something else, which you were.” Lyric said, “Okay, I'll think about it but I really can't remember anything out of the ordinary.”

Everyone was eating their breakfast when Andrea said, “Okay, not that I don't trust everyone at this table but as a mother I have to say these things. As long as Ethan and Johnathan are here, she looked at Lyric then Ethan, you two are not to be alone in the house together.” Lyric rolled her eye's and started to protest but Andrea held up a hand to stop her, “I'm not saying that anything will happen but any mother with half a brain would worry. As long as one of us, she indicated Donner and herself, are here when you both are here there shouldn't be a problem. Okay, I won't say another word as long as you both respect my rules,” she looked at Lyric then Ethan. Lyric said, “I don't have a problem with that but you really don't have to worry about it. I respect myself to much to sleep around with anyone. Ethan smiled at Lyric then looked at Andrea, “Andrea, I would never disrespect you or your daughter like that.” Andrea looked at Lyric and said, “I'm glad to hear you say that Lyric and thank you Ethan. Not another word about it unless either one of you disrespect the rules.” Everyone smiled and continued eating.