AN: Thanks Al! I promise we won't have too much fun!
"What a day. I was just supposed to give everything a once over. Bloody stupid reporter!"
Sterling could just feel the tension creeping in, and decided to call today a loss, despite getting all the positive information she needed.
***********************************
Cinnamon, fresh out of classes and not too fond of the idea of returning home just yet, decided to warn her stepfather that permanent relocation to Pago Pago might be in order, as her Momma was on a killing rampage having to oversee moving of both houses, not to mention party planning...alone.
***********************************
Flipping her Bluetooth over her ear and switching it on, Sterling prepared to call Jet and Monica as she walked to her car, when she stumbled, quite literally, into a lovely young woman, Auburn tresses reminiscent of cinnamon and silk, and striking features that reminded her of Al's wife Daisy, who she had been informed only used that as a nickname, and was Rosalynd Alexander-Richer in the business world, which she already committed to her brain-attic.
"You'll do indeed," she said a slow grin creeping onto her face.
"Excuse me?" the woman said, a trifle nettled.
"You're related to Al and Mrs. Rosalynd Alexander-Richer, I'm certain of it. You are absolutely stunning. I wonder if you could help me find her.
I'm having a shite day, and want to kidnap her for an afternoon of hedonistic relaxational exercises.... Oh wait, I think they call that a '
spa day' here. If your schedule is free...hell, if it's not, clear it anyway, I'm dragging you along too," she said, tapping her Bluetooth, as the idea neatly fell into place.
'
Cuchi-cuchi'
"Excuse me!" said Cinnamon, indignantly.
"Oi! Monica, have you and Jet got pruney enough? If not, I'm feeling a spa day is in order! Tell you about it later. I'm kidnapping Al's better half, and I believe their daughter is this lovely creature in front of me. No, no, I stumbled into her quite literally. No, I think she is considering a punch and run, so yeah, a quick 'port here and back is probably in order, luv."
*
POIT*
"Holyshitit'scoldouthere!HiCinnamon,ThisherecrazywomanisSterling,Jet'sfriend."
Monica blurted out, shivering seeming ill prepared for the cold, despite her warm clothes.
"Dork." Sterling said, waving her hand around Monica, leaving behind a light golden aura.
"Thanks. She's the one Buck helped. If you want a day of pampering, go get Daisy. This will be a fun girl's day out! I need to get back and tell Jet."
*
POIT*
"Okay, so you know her Royal Dorkness... You've met Al, and Momma too... Why does it sound like you're the fun sort of trouble?"
"I suppose that means you approve then. As you've heard, I'm Sterling."
"Of course you are, with that gorgeous hair and eyes. How could they not name you that?
Well, as you heard, I'm Cinnamon...well, it's what family and friends call me. Cindy Alexander outside in public for your rolodex, but that's
boring. Here, let me give you Momma's number. She can yell at me later. Oh, old school, neat." Cinnamon chatted on pleasantly while typing in Daisy's number, then pushed talk before Sterling could react.
***********************************
"John er PRROUL! No - leave that - it's going to be going to New Alexander. EDWARD! Where is that man..."
Daisy's phone rang - an unwelcome interruption in an already full day. She pulled it out, and irritably noted it was that mage/artist - and her warning bells went off.
Steeling herself, and taking several deep breaths she took the call and said,
"Hello, Sterling! How are you!"
"Oh, um, Hello Luv! You sound awfully
stressed!" she said, distractedly, while a familiar stifled giggle sounded in the background.
"Oh, NO, dear...always happy to hear from you." Daisy's voice dripped sweetness - she was not going to end up on the end of an entanglement spell again, but this might help to shorten the interruption.
"Yes, dear - you
ARE stressed out - and I have a solution for it."
"Oh - are you going to assassinate my husband for throwing parties in Two Half-Built Houses?"
The hyperbole was only partially faked - and not at all untrue from Daisy's point of view. Her squeeze was a good man, but he'd dumped the planning on her - for which he was going to pay dearly at some point in the future.
"No - something
BETTER! You need a Spa Day!"
Daisy, to whom a spa day was two husky, well-built groomsmen with currycombs and brushes, was immediately intrigued.
"Go on..."
"Well, I sort of bumped into your charming daughter, who tells me of the seven impossible tasks you have to complete before breakfast, and lunch, and dinner.
Party planning AND not one, but two household moves? No wonder you two had a wee blow up.
I'm staying at the Grand, which is, minus a certain greasy front desk clerk...but we can avoid him easily.
I'm told they have a decadent spa, and I'm
telling you,
you're going. Make a list of the 'cannot possibly screw it up stuff to do', leave it in the hands of the most trustworthy capable person there...or better yet, have Al 'direct the troops', We'll get him there...oh, and be ready by the time we get there. See you in a few. Ta!"
Sterling clicked her Bluetooth off before there was time to respond, then turning to Cinnamon said,
"So, who wants to tell Al he's needed back at home?"
Giggling, Cinnamon grabbed Sterling by the hand, and dragged her back to the shop, where Al was reorganising the shop biscuit store...much to the detriment of his waistline.
"Al! Buddy!" Cinnamon remarked, immediately propelling her stepfather's blood pressure to new heights as she had on a megawatt grin.
Biscuit in one hand and coffee mug in the other, Al said "Cinnamon, love, what are you doing here - and in the company of this reprobate." He fixed Sterling with a scowl.
"Hi Al. Momma is
really frazzled.
Really, really frazzled. You need to get home and be there to organize the troops. Sterling is stealing Momma, me, and yes, Katherine too.
(
"If we're causing trouble, why not go all the way?" she thought.)
She's kidnapping us all for a girl's day out. I'm scheduling special delivery so 'sali and 'stela are fed, and an extra incentive for them to not kill each other while we're out..."
Grinning, Sterling said, " 'bye Al. I'll bring them back when they're all
good and stress-free."
"Oh, no, Nononono. I have just gotten my day back on track and I am NOT diving into that nest of raptors. Today has been stressful enough - I am NOT inflicting that on myself."
Looking serious, Cinnamon said "Al, honestly you need to. Momma is really wound up - and to be honest you haven't been as much help as you could be."
Al pondered that, the look on his face making him realize that this was not altogether untrue...not at all.
Sterling added her opinion. "Think of it this way. Your gents here can handle this place easily without you for the rest of the day - and this way you lower your stress level by lowering hers. Face it, Al, you need to do this."
Al muttered a short, expletive-free curse then resigned himself to the inevitable.
"Oh, VERY well. Have your spa day if you must - I will resign myself to my fate." He grinned, bowing to the inevitable and letting his love for his dam and family carry through.
"YOU. Bring them back in one piece, mind you!" He pointed at Sterling, the joking note evident in his voice.
Sterling, also grinning, replied in a wicked imitation of his voice. "Oh, VERY well...
Race you!"
With that, Sterling dragged Cinnamon off to the Grand Am, for navigation to Daisy, gracefully exiting the property as Red's turbo roared into life, Cinnamon whooping all the way.
