McKenzie laughs softly and blushes. "Yes, Sir. I mean, no, Sir."

Charleston chuckles and nods. "It's fine, then." he says and finishes off his coffee.

McKenzie flinches when her cell phone vibrates in her back pocket, then she fishes it out and swallows hard when she stares at the screen. "Jeez...he's really pissed." she whispers and shows me the "NOW." on her cell phone's screen from "Dad." She slides from the sofa and takes the empty ice cream container from me, but freezes when I take it back from her.

"Go. I don't want you getting grounded." I rush her and rise to walk with her.

She takes her lower...