Bella walked into Friendly's a week later, to find Jake, Scout, and a screaming Cameron sitting up at the counter. Will was serving them. "Can't you get her to stop?" he pleaded to Jake, screwing up his face at the loudness of the baby's wails. "You'll make me lose customers!"
Jake smiled apologetically. "Sorry Will," she said, "But I've been trying. For hours. I only bought her here to see if a change of scenery would shut her up. She's been like this all morning."
Bella walked over. "Here, let me take her." Rocking the baby gently in her arms, she wandered around the restaurant. Most of the customers were familiar to her, and she "introduced" Cameron to each of them as she walked past. "…And this is Mr. Schwarz, my Maths tutor. He's big on algebra." She whispered with a smile" "And here are Lucy-Beth and Janice from my gym class – hey girls, this is Cameron. And this is Will Krudski, my best friend in the entire world. He's a little grumpy right now though, because you have been screaming. But I think…yes. You are asleep." She tiptoed back over to an open-mouthed Jake, and deposited Cameron in her sister's arms.
"Wow Bella! How'd you learn to do that? I've been trying for hours to get her to sleep, then you do it in like 5 minutes!"
"Well, I did look after Grace a lot when she was tiny. And boy did she scream! I don't know, I just kinda…did it. Not really sure how." She mused. "I really miss having a little baby around, you know. Grace was so sweet when she was little…now look at her!" Bella motioned for the others to look behind her in the direction of the gas station. "I'll bet you she's leaning over a guy's car, with the buttons on her blouse undone, holding his change. And he'll be there leering at her, and she's either batting her eyelashes, or flirting outright. Am I right?"
The others laughed, seeing Grace doing exactly what her sister had predicted.
"Never mind, Bella," Jake said, stroking her sister's soft cheeks. "You can come visit Cameron anytime you want." She smiled at her friend, knowing they shared another thing in common the boys didn't have.
Scout his nose up at this last comment. "Well I'm glad I don't get invited to come over whenever I want!" he declared, grabbing his jacket off his seat. "This kid screams way too much for my liking." He grinned at them. "I'm off. Got Physics homework to do. See ya." He walked over to Will to say bye, then went outside.
Jake smiled over at Bella. This is the perfect opportunity for a little girl-talk! she thought happily. "So…" she said out loud, "Wanna talk? How's things with Sean?"
Bella blushed red. "Oh, you know." She murmured coyly, hiding her face.
"Well, no actually, I don't." Jake laughed. "Tell all…"