Chapter 27 Chocolate
Dr. Temperance Brennan slid her laptop into her messenger bag, slung it over her shoulder and kissed her husband, who was up to his elbows in soapy dish water. "Why aren't you putting those plates in the dishwasher, Booth?"
"These were my Grams, and the gold edging is getting fragile, Bones."
"You are sweet to go to that extra trouble to preserve them for Parker and Chrissy . I'll try to be home by noon; I need to examine the hominid bones I received from China yesterday afternoon and email my initial findings to Dr. Li at Nanking University," Brennan told him as she bent to hug their daughter. "Only 30 more minutes of television, honey. Then you and Daddy find something else to do."
"Don't worry, Bones, we've got all sorts of projects planned for this morning, don't we, Chrissy-cakes?"
"I know your projects, Booth. No telling what I'll come home to," Brennan smiled back, rolling her eyes at him on her way out the front door.
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"Okay, Little Miss, turn off 'Bunsen Jude, The Science Dude' and let's get this show on the road so we're finished by the time Mommy gets back!" Booth called to Christine as he put the last plate into the cabinet and dried his hands. "Did you know that your mom was on that television show one time? They even filmed it at her lab. I think Parker has it on DVD; we'll have to watch it together one of these Saturdays when Mommy doesn't have to go to the lab."
"Daddy, what's our prajet?" Christine asked excitedly.
"We are gonna surprise your mom with a big batch of Pops' Super Duper Chocolate Chunk Brownies," Booth told her as he looped a small apron over her head and tied its strings around her tummy. "Parker is on spring break next week, so he'll be coming to spend a few days with us, and he loves those as much as I did when I was a kid."
"How come I never gots one of Great Gran Pops Choklit Brownies, Daddy?"
"Because your mother thinks you shouldn't eat that much chocolate all at one time, Punkin' but we're going to convince her to make an exception for Parker's visit," Booth declared as he helped Christine climb up onto one of the kitchen chairs.
"You hold this big spoon, while I crack these eggs and measure out the millk and flour and sugar and then I'll let you stir it after I get all this stuff mixed up…..hmmmm, this batter is really thick. I think we're going to need your mom's electric mixer."
Booth reached under the cabinet and pulled out the mixer.
"So what can I do, Daddy?"
"I have just the job for you, Miss Chris! It requires a very special talent, which I know you have."
Booth produced a bag of chocolate chips, and a large flat bar of Hershey's Chocolate. He handed Christine the chocolate bar. "Tear open the paper, and unwrap the shiny silver foil inside. Then see if you can break the candy into pieces along the grooves. When you finish that, I'll show you how to measure the chocolate chips," he grinned.
"Wow, Daddy, these brownies need A LOT of chocolate, huh?"
"Yup, they sure do, Bubbette. Hey, don't be eating so many of those chocolate chips, you little monkey!"
A half hour later, after letting Christine 'finger paint' butter all over the bottom of a large rectangular pan to grease it, Booth scooped the last of the brownie batter from the bowl, and lifted the pan into the oven. "And now we wait!" he smiled as he set the timer. "Thirty-five minutes is just enough time for a good swing outside! We'll clean up the kitchen once we get the brownies out of the oven to cool."
After pushing Christine in her swing until his arms were tired, Booth heard the timer chime and lifted her onto his shoulders for the trip back inside. "Back up, honey, I don't want you to get burned. This is hot!" Booth carried the pan of brownies to the laundry room to cool, and closed the door.
"Daddy, are you washing the brownies?"
"No, honey, we can't surprise your mom, if she finds the brownies before they've cooled off!"
"Can you swing me some more?"
"Why don't you give your tricycle a ride? Dad's arms are tired out right now. I'm going to sit here on the porch and watch you for a bit."
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A short time later, Brennan pulled into the garage and went to look for her family. She walked through the kitchen and gasped at the chocolate fragments and chips scattered across the counter, and the drippy mixing bowl still streaked with chocolate batter which sat in the sink. Looking out the kitchen window, she saw who she was looking for. She quietly opened the back door, and stepped out onto the porch. Sprawled in one of their white Adirondack lounge chairs, Booth was fast asleep with a chocolate-faced Christine napping on his chest.
"Looks like I've discovered the hide-out of the infamous Chocolate Chip Gang!" Brennan laughed as she tickled and kissed her drowsy spouse and child. "Do you two think you could have made a bigger mess of the kitchen? It looks like you had a spectacularly fun morning together!"
"We made you Gran Pop's brownies, Mommy!"
"Boy, kiddo, you really know how to blow a secret! I'll never make a good FBI agent out of you!" Booth grumbled to his daughter. "But they'll still taste great, anyway."