"So explain to me one more time what you're doing."
Lindsay chuckled and stuck the now washed cereal bowl in the dish strainer.
"It's a cookie tasting."
"Like a wine tasting."
"Yes. But with cookies."
"But why?"
"Because, Kori is trying out new recipes and she wants people to try them," she explained, referring to a friend in theirs building who owned a small bakery. "I promised her I would come and she told me to bring friends and since Stella and Austin are both off and neither one of them can say no to cookies… why are you looking at me like I have three heads?"
"Girls are weird," he shrugged. "I mean, wine I get. Coffee I understand. But cookies?"
"You're just jealous. I'll bring you some home."
"Thanks. Man, and girls think we don't get them."
"I know! Why don't you guys just say what you mean for Pete's sake?"
He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"I'm going to work. Don't do nothin' I wouldn't do."
"That leaves a lot of possibilities. Thanks for the support."
He gave her a quick kiss and headed out the door, pulling it open to see Austin poised to knock.
"Hey, look what I found," he shouted. "It's a stray."
"Shut up, ADD."
"Come in, and don't turn my wife against me."
"My powers are vast and mighty, but not that vast and mighty."
"I thank you."
He shoved her playfully and left the apartment while Austin went into the kitchen.
"Well hello Donna Reed," she greeted, jumping up onto the counter.
"Hey Susan Mayer," Lindsay shot back. "You're early."
"I was bored. Danny was completely engrossed in Sportscenter."
"You like Sportscenter."
"Of course. I hate when they do the hour segments about who's making what. It bores me. And he won't take his eyes off it."
"Did you try cellophane and a Yankees cap?"
"After the fake Yankees cap incident last time? Do you think I'm stupid?"
"I love how we can just make stories up and run with them like they're true."
"We're nothing if not world class liars," Austin agreed, pouring herself a cup of lukewarm coffee. "Did you let Adam make this?"
"Yeah. Notice most of the pot is left. I really need to take some time and train him better."
"Hey, you've created in him the habit of picking up his wet towels. I think you've accomplished a lot."
"Yeah, that wasn't easy. Though I can't get him to put the freaking milk back in the fridge."
"So, can I ask you somethin'?"
"Is it going to be painful?"
"What's going on with you?"
Lindsay just sighed.
"Hey, come on. I told you what was going on with me."
"I know. You're right."
She took a deep breath and told her about the letter. About how he had been extradited to Texas for previous crimes, about how he had been found guilty and was on death row with a smirk on his face because he was still playing a game and he was still in the lead.
"I'm not going," she said. "No answer he could give me would make anything any better. Plus, if he did want to confess before he died, well at least I have the power to deny him that."
They just looked at each other for a minute.
"You are some kind of strong, do you know that?"
"I think we all have to be at some point."
"I guess so."
"Okay, enough of that. Let's go get Stella and real coffee."
"And cookies," Austin agreed, jumping off the counter. "Danny said he doesn't see the appeal."
"Of cookies?"
"Of only eating a bite."
"Three bites. One to acclimate your palate, one to taste and one to decide."
"You've been watching Gilmore girls again?"
"You're surprised?"
"Guess not."
"Oh my word," Stella grumbled from the back seat. "How long does it take to swipe a card and hand coffee out the window?"
"They've been talking for two whole minutes. It doesn't sound like a lot, but when you're sitting in the drive-thru behind them, it's ridiculous."
"Do they know each other or something?" Lindsay asked. "It's like they haven't seen each other in years. I'm surprised they haven't leapt through the windows to hug each other."
"Shut up!" Austin shouted, waving at the other car.
"Why in hells reach would you not just pull around and go inside? Isn't that logical?"
"I'm about to go tap my badge against her windshield," Stella muttered. "Don't they realize that I haven't had coffee in almost a whole day?"
"There is about to be a homicide in the Starbucks line and I am pretty sure we can skew the evidence to point directly to a tea drinker."
"Aust, I think you're on to something."
"What are they even talking about? Oh yeah, we're just going shopping today," she said in her best moron voice. "I love shopping so much. It's like the best thing ever!"
Lindsay giggled.
"I know, it's fantabulous! I'm going to go when I get off work. I so might get my belly button pierced!"
"Oh Em Gee that would be so hot! All your boyfriends would love it."
"I know right? I should also get my tramp stamp retouched. It's like faded. Girl, you know what I mean."
"Yeah, Tito's name is fading off my boob."
"That totes sucks. OHMYGOSH! Did I tell you what happened? Oh my gosh! Whitney tried to steal my boyfriend! She like walked by him and looked at him and I was like Girl, back up off this!"
"What a whore!"
"I'll flatten that tramp out."
"You go girl. Hey look, I have elbows!"
"Aw, they're so sexy."
"Hot, right?"
"I think I could get my boss to cheat on his wife with me."
"Is he rich?"
"Kinda."
"Go for it! He's like old man hot."
Stella was nearly doubled over laughing by this point, trying to stifle it so she wouldn't miss anything.
"Oh, we'd better go before all the good stuff is gone. Let's get together later girl!"
"I'll text you. BFF!"
The car pulled forward and Lindsay and Austin had to fight to keep straight faces when the barista greeted them in the most high pitched, chipper voice either of them had ever heard. She took the money and handed them the coffee without extraneous talking, and they were soon on their way to the bakery.
"That was a fun game," Austin noted. "We should play it more often."
"Yes we should."
"BFF," Stella said with a snort. "I can't breathe."
"It's a good thing she hasn't seen us at two a.m.," Lindsay said with a shake of her head.
"The three of us together that late would probably end up really, really bad."
"We need to try it sometime."
"Oh, of course."
It was late afternoon when the trio returned to the lab. They'd tasted tons of cookies, then had a lazy lunch and decided to bless the boys with the leftover cookies.
"Let's not tell them they're organic and gluten free," Stella remarked as they stepped off the elevator.
"Yeah, I am pretty sure they'd have a collective cow if we mentioned it," Lindsay agreed.
"We can wait until the cookies are all gone and then tell them."
"You live so dangerously, Aust."
"I try. Hey boys! Cookies!" she announced as they entered Mac's office. It didn't take long before the guys were scarfing down the cookies appreciatively. It was actually pretty reminiscent of the previous Thanksgiving dinner.
"These are pretty good," Flack said, his mouth full of cookie. "If I was on a diet, I would be majorly cheating."
"Flack, you're such a girl," Danny chuckled.
"I believe we've had this conversation before. Austin knows I'm a man."
Austin dropped her face into her hand so hard that it made a slapping noise.
"This is not happening," she muttered.
"Yeah, but she dumped you and came back to me," Danny added, putting his arm around his wife. "What now Flack?"
"This betrayal stings, guys," he said, patting his chest in mock pain.
"Great Danny, now we've got to find him a woman. Again."
"Think Michelle Pintler is still single?"
"Of course she is."
"Hey, you guys stop being mean to Flack," Lindsay said.
"Thanks Linds."
"He's just trying to channel his inner RuPaul."
"Adam, come wrangle your wife."
They all continued to pick on each other like children while Mac and Stella sat on the desk together and shook their heads in amusement.
It was such a strange family they had all created, and not even on purpose. They had all just fallen together and no matter the years that passed or the disagreements or the struggles, there was a bond that ran through them that kept them coming back to this place.