Five-four wasn’t exactly Top Model material. Not that she wanted to be a model. Even if she were tall enough, Cera didn’t want that for her future. She wanted to be a cop.
Just like the ones who helped my mom all those times.
But for now…
“Come on.” The chair’s legs made an unpleasant sound as she pushed herself away from the table and rose to her socked feet. “I’ll even let you sleep in my bed, if you want.”
Callie’s eyes lit up at the offer. “Really?” The tips of her brown hair flung across one shoulder as the little girl pleaded with their mom. “Can I?Pleeeeaaase.”
Their mom’s identical gaze turned to Cera. “You sure? Last time you let her sleep with you, you woke up with a crick in your neck and a surly attitude from lack of sleep.”
“I’m sure.” She smiled down at her beloved sister. “I’ll just put a couple pillows between us this time, to keep your wiggly butt on your side of the bed.”
An excited Callie shot to her feet and squeezed herself between the back of Cera’s chair and the wall behind them. “Deal!”
While Cera pushed both girls’ chairs in, Richard began gathering up all the Uno cards and placing them back into the game’s cardboard box.
“Thank you!” Callie gave their mom a giant hug.
The pretty thirty-eight-year-old woman chuckled as she welcomed her youngest child into her open arms. “You’re welcome. Just make sure to brush your teeth good first.”
“Going to do that right now! Night, Richard!” Callie gave the kind man a drive-by kiss on the cheek before running from the room to get ready for bed.
“That was really nice of you,” Richard commented after she left.
A small shrug lifted one of Cera’s shoulders as she carried the half-empty popcorn bowl over to the counter next to the sink. “I figure once I go to college, our sleepovers will be few and far between. May as well give her as many as I can between now and then.”
“Have I ever told you you’re the best big sister any little girl could ever ask for?” Her mom joined her. Setting the clan’s dirty glasses into the left side of the sink, she leaned over and dropped a loving kiss on Cera’s cheek.
Her chest grew warm with affection, but the teenager in her refused to let the opportunity for a smart-assed remark slip past. “You have, but feel free to say it again. And again. Aaaand…again.”
Richard’s deep laugh filled the small room. “And so humble, too,” he teased.
“Well, you are the best sister,” her mother insisted. “And the best oldest daughter I could’ve ever been blessed with.”
“Good thing you added the ‘oldest’ in front of that.” Cera arched a brow.
“No doubt.” Richard set his glass in the sink with the others. “Callie hears you calling Cera your favorite daughter, she’s sure to start World War Three.”
Her mom let loose with a decidedly unladylike snort. “I know that’s right.”
Rising to her cotton-covered tiptoes, Cera gave Richard a hug. “’Night.”
“Goodnight, Hun.” His big arms squeezed her tightly. “Sleep tight.”
Turning to her right, she gave her mom an even bigger hug. “Night. Love you.”
“Love you, too, baby girl.”
After a few gentle pats to her back, Cera left the room in search of her bed. As expected, Callie was already snuggled under the covers on the side she always slept on during nights such as this.
Lined up end-to-end were spare pillows, a billowy wall dividing the mattress in half from headboard to footboard.
“I got it ready for you,” Callie announced.
“I see that.” She smiled. “Thanks.”
Walking over to her mirrored dresser, Cera removed her small, cubic zirconia studded earrings and placed them in her musical jewelry box. After removing the elastic band holding her ponytail in place, she went through her nightly routine.