Chapter Nine
Miranda was up, dressed and at the check out desk by the time Josef and Aubrey arrived. "Hello," Josef said, walking up as Miranda signed the last of her release forms.
"So I hear you're coming with us to the beach," Miranda commented, handing the forms to the nurse, who nodded and handed her a receipt.
"I thought I'd tag along," Josef said.
Miranda gave him the once over. He was in a suit as always. It was black with a light blue dress shirt underneath. "You don't looked dressed for the beach."
"I'm not," Josef said, with a grin.
"I might have forgotten to tell you," Mick said, picking up Zoe as they all started for the door. "We're going shopping."
Miranda sent him a look and then transferred her glare to Aubrey. "This was your idea."
"You don't have a bathing suit," Aubrey said, in her defense. "And neither does Zoe."
Miranda shook her head. She knew that it was true about the bathing suits but she also knew that if Aubrey was taking them to get the suits, they would be going to expensive stores. "Can't we just stop at a beach store?"
"No," Aubrey said, automatically. She linked her arm through Josef's. "I need a suit too and so do the boys, if they don't want to stand out too much"
"We wouldn't want that," Josef joked.
"And you know how I am," Aubrey replied, giving her sister the puppy-dog face.
"Yeah, you like to spend money," Miranda gave Josef a nudge. "Sugar daddy."
Josef gave a smirk. "I've been known to be." He gave Aubrey a tight squeeze before turning to Mick, who was carrying Zoe. Zoe jumped into Josef arms as he said, "You know how I like to spoil."
"Don't I though," Miranda muttered, linking arms with Mick.
After a short drive in silence, both cars pulled into an expensive designer store. Miranda groaned as she climbed out of the car and let Zoe out from behind her seat. Mick laughed at the look of apprehension on Miranda's face. "Why don't you just try to have fun?"
"Spending this kind of money isn't fun," Miranda growled, as Aubrey took Zoe's hand and they walked towards the door. Josef held back and waited for Mick and Miranda.
"So, are you going to let me spoil Zoe?" Josef asked.
"How could I stop you?" Mick asked, as they walked into the brightly lit, air conditioned store.
Zoe and Aubrey were already deep in the bathing suit section. Miranda groaned again and walked in to the section after them.
Josef turned to Mick. "Any idea why she hates shopping so much?"
"I don't know," Mick shook his head. He had no idea why Miranda was so annoyed at the idea of shopping here, it's not like they lacked the funds.
The guys caught up with the girls just as Aubrey was dragging Miranda, and a pile of two piece suits, towards the dressing rooms. Zoe trailed after them with a pile of suits all her own. Aubrey smiled as she handed Miranda half the stack she held and shoved her into one of the changing rooms. "Just, try them out for me."
"Fine," Miranda sighed, through the door.
Aubrey clapped and took her stack into another changing room. "This is going to be fun."
Zoe knocked on Miranda's changing room door. Without a word Miranda opened the door and allowed the girl in.
Mick and Josef sat down in the two chairs just outside the changing rooms. "This could be fun for us too," Josef whispered.
Aubrey and Zoe came out at the same time. Aubrey's first selection was a bright red two piece. Zoe had a light pink one piece. They first looked at each other and then at the half closed door of Miranda's changing room.
"Miranda?" Aubrey called.
"I'm not coming out," Miranda called.
Aubrey pushed the door open, grabbed Miranda and dragged her out. Miranda was wearing a bright turquoise two piece. It looked very strange against her pale skin.
Josef looked all three over and said, "No."
Everyone looked at him. He pointed to each in turn. "Miranda…no. Aubrey, too bright. Zoe, too…pink"
All three turned and walked back into the changing rooms.
"We could be here all day," Mick said, looking at his watch after the fifth change.
Miranda was the first back out. She had a plain black two piece. It was vivid against her pale skin. Mick just stared at her for a minute. "You're done," he said. Miranda laughed but nodded.
Zoe came out in a tankini. The top was red and black stripped with black bottoms. She smiled. "I like this one." Miranda and Mick gave her a once over and agreed.
When Miranda and Zoe were coming out in their clothes, bathing suits draped over Miranda's arm. Aubrey appeared. She wore a dark crimson two piece. It was the color of blood.
Josef growled. He was up from his chair in a second and was pushing her back towards the changing stall. Aubrey pouted, shoving him back slightly. "You don't like it."
A grin covered Josef face. "No, I love it." Understanding hit Aubrey and she shoved him back again.
"Not here." Her cheeks were bright red. She disappeared again into the changing booth to change back into her clothes.
Miranda gave Josef a look, and shook her head. "You have a single track mind."
Josef shook his head. "No, I think quite a few things at once."
"And I don't want to know what they are," Miranda added, as her sister reappeared.
Aubrey handed her suit to Josef, who pulled his wallet from his pocket. He held out a hand to Miranda.
Miranda shook her head, reaching for her purse. "I think I can handle it, Josef." He had the suits from her before she could blink. "Josef!"
"It's not my fault you're slow," Josef joked, heading for the checkout.
Aubrey bounced after him, catching his arm. "We're not done."
"We're not?" Josef and Miranda asked simultaneously.
"You and Mick need suits too," Aubrey said, steering him to the men's suits.
"I have no intention of swimming," Mick said as Miranda tugged him after her as she followed Aubrey.
"But you want to look the part," Aubrey reminded, handing Josef three different suits. She tossed a few at Mick as well.
Mick and Josef then became Ken Barbie dolls. They tried on all the suits as Aubrey commanded. Miranda sat there with Zoe on her lap. Zoe babbled away about how much she loved the beach as Aubrey gave her opinion on every suit.
The boys finally settled on black shorts for both. Aubrey was unhappy but Josef quickly changed her mind.
At the checkout the sales girl stared at both guys like they were some kind of candy, just waiting to be eaten. Aubrey finally couldn't take it anymore and wrapped an arm around Josef and said, "Honey, I'm going to go out to the car." She stuck her hand in his pocket and retrieved his keys.
Miranda nearly died laughing at the looked on both Josef and the checkout girl's face.
Mick tapped Josef's back and said, "Breathe, buddy."
Aubrey was on her way out the door with Zoe on her heels when the checkout girl recovered. "It that your girlfriend?"
Josef looked at the girl. "No, she just stole my car keys. Of course, she is."
Miranda laughed so hard she had to grab Mick for support. He shook his head as they all walked out of the store. "You know we can never shop here again."
"Good," Miranda said, slipping into the front seat. She looked around. "Zoe?"
"Over here," Josef called from the driver's seat of his car. Zoe waved from the back.
Miranda shook her head. "Meet you there."