Finally Finn (Los Rancheros #4) by Brandace Morrow Read Free Book Online Page A

they’re both nervous, but they’ve been fighting
all morning.
    “You look cute, too, Aunt Sadie,” Bridgette
says with innocent eyes and a small voice that makes me feel
slightly bad for cutting them short. Slightly.
    “Thanks, kid.” Alyse is eyeing us like she
doesn’t know what kids are, or why I’m with them. “Hey, Alyse. Is
it okay if they come in with me? I’m babysitting.”
    Her eyes narrow. “No kids are allowed in that
aren’t admitted. I’m sorry.”
    “They have to come in or I can’t. They’re
really excited to see everyone.”
    “I’m sorry, it’s against policy.”
    “Look. These are Batman’s kids.” I widen my
eyes for their benefit. “He can’t make it today and they’re with
me. I would hate for both of us not to show up.” I look at the
girls and they’re both giving their best puppy dog looks with full
lower lips. Alyse sighs.
    “They would have to wear masks and never take
them off. I could get in a lot of trouble. They aren’t sick in any
way, are they? Have they washed their hands?”
    I smile. “We’ll all go wash our hands again
right now, even though they did before we left the house and I
practically bathed them in Purell before we got here.”
    “She really did. It got in my hair, see?”
Hannah holds up a length of stiff hair as evidence and Alyse hands
over the masks. I secure the straps around their little ears and we
go down the hall to the restrooms. When we get back, Alyse pushes
the button for the automatic doors and we walk in.
    “Robin! She’s here, she’s here!” one kid runs
to tell the others. “Where’s Batman?”
    I put a hand on both of the minions’ heads.
“Batman sends his sincerest apologies and offers up his children as
sacrifice for his absence. He had a mission to complete.”
    Another kid comes up. “Oh, was it the Joker
again? Bane? He’s a bad one, too, you know.” He looks at the girls
and they nod their heads eagerly.
    “It was totally him! Batman had a lead and
couldn’t pass it up. I hope it’s okay we’re here instead,” Hannah
says, completely into her role as sidekick, to me, the
sidekick.
    “Yeah, I guess that’s cool,” the kid says
grudgingly.
    “Hey, what movie are you watching?” Bridgette
leads the way into the common area, and I give out hugs and fist
bumps as they get caught up with the movie and introduced to the
crowd. I take a seat in the miniature chair to the side and watch
the girls with complete pride.
    As I perform manicures for a dozen girls, the
twins sit with the kids that aren’t in my line of cosmetology. I
was worried about the boys, but they shrug off their girl status
when they show that they know everything that is Batman. I tried to
give them a crash course this morning, thinking if it was fresh
they wouldn’t forget it, but it seems the superhero gene carried
strong in the Brennick family, and they’ve watched all of the
cartoon flicks with the three men at home.
    When my line is done, I make the rounds to
each of the groups watching something about trees and Hoodoos or
whatever.
    I gather the girls over an hour later to go
into the patients’ rooms asking, “What movie was that again?”
    “The Lorax.” Huh. Never heard of it.
    “Cool. Okay, remember what I said?” I ask
before opening the first door. They nod their heads in sync.
    “Don’t act like there’s anything wrong.”
    “Don’t ask about any tubes or why they don’t
have hair. Geez, Aunt Sadie, we know.”
    “If we want to leave, say we have to go to
the bathroom.” Well, okay, then.
    I knock on the door, and when we’re told to
come in, we’re greeted with a mom that’s all smiles and a teenager
that tries not to act excited as she unconsciously reaches to push
hair behind her ear that isn’t there anymore.
    “Hi, Mara. I brought a treat.”
    “Where’s your Batalicious?” she says, in her
typical snark. I push the twins forward.
    “These are his. I brought them to you for
bloodletting.” She rubs