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“Yes, however…”

“Hop, you really need to stop interrupting.I am trying…”

“Me?You want me to…”

“Yes, I want you to shut up and listen.”

So aghast that he couldn’t respond, which in the logical part of his brain he knew was what his Cousin wanted, Hopper stood there with his mouth open as the illogical, and largest, part of his brain conjured up nasty comments as if they were bullets in the chamber of the antique Tommy gun he kept in the safe on the third floor of his home.Yes, it was for the best that he couldn’t say all the shitty things he was thinking because, well… he most certainly did not want to be turned into a baboon’s behind, and Destiny would, without a doubt, follow through on her threat if he uttered even one of the eloquent and pointed insults his mind had conjured.

No, he most definitely could not say what he was thinking.Yes, he was incredibly thankful that his mouth refused to work at that very moment.Absolutely, he planned to write down every single consonant and vowel of the creative insults his mind was coming up with because there was no doubt in his mind he would need them some day.

With all that said, or more to the point, thought, none of it changes the fact that he was still stuck listening to Destiny listing all the ways that she was right, and he was wrong.

Leaning his hip against the granite top of the island and crossing his arms over his chest, Hopper exhaled, nodded, and glared at Desi.Of course, she wasn’t bothered at all.In fact, she smiled like the Cheshire cat from one his favorite stories, crinkled her nose, then winked.“Yes, that’s it, Hop.That’s how you shut up and listen.Good, Hopper.Very good.”

Rolling his eyes, he was just about ready to fire off one of the snappy retorts still floating around his brain when the timer on the oven started to beep.“Saved by the bell!”Pat chirped.Sliding his hands into the oven mitts that resembled the colorfully painted face of Bozo the Clown, he turned them into puppets and teased, “Now, you listen to Auntie Destiny while I get the biscuits.And remember, you love her dearly and would never ever never think about plotting her demise.”

“Ha.Ha.Ha.You’re so…”

“Hopper.Hopper, are you listening to me?”Destiny’s voice cut through Pat’s wheezing laughter, forcing him to snap his attention back to her floating head with his brow furrowed and his jaw so clenched he was sure he’d cracked a molar.

“Yes, Desi, I am…”

“Well, good.As I was saying, I do all of this for you and for Hel not because it is my job, but because I…”

“Because you love us.”

“Well… Well, yes!”She happily replied, her determined expression turning to happiness with a side of a smile.“You were listening.Lookie there, you can be taught.”

“You’re right, and I’m…”

“No need for apologies.We’re Family, and that means never having to say you’re sorry.”

“Thank you, Desi, but that isn’t…”

Leveling her gaze, the usually swirling onyx of her eyes holding completely still with the starlight still beautifully glittering, her voice became deadly seriously as she declared, “Just be at my Summer Fun in the Sun Pool Party and Barbeque on time.The theme is in your honor after all.Make sure to wear your most festive ‘cowboy’ attire, and donotmake me come and get you.”Batting her eyes with extreme precision, she added, “Because if I have to leave my party and come fetch you, Hopper my love, it will not be pretty.”

“As you wish, De…” Unable to finish his sentence before she blinked out of sight, Hopper turned to Pat who was setting the tray holding the latest batch of biscuits on the counter and snarled, “I truly hate when she does that.”

“Do you think she appeared without an invitation or giving notice and didn’t let us speak because she knew we were talking about her?Or does she just know everything and like to show off?”

“Both.”

“Yeah, well, we should all be used to it by now.She’s always been that way.”

“And that makes it okay?”

“No, I didn’t say that.”Shrugging as he took off the oven mitts and tossed them atop the microwave, the Omnipotent Being known as Patience added, “I’m simply suggesting that it’s a lot easier to accept the things you can’t change…”

“And ask God with a capital G for the wisdom to know what that is?”

Laughing as he picked up a steaming biscuit and tossed it his way, Pat chuckled, “No, but that’s pretty good.You’re quick.The other Cousins, especially Serenity, would be so proud that you remember their prayer.”

“Why, thank you, sir,” Hop snickered before taking a bite of the biscuit he’d just caught.“You know how much I live to make the entire Family happy.”

“I would go that far.”Pat winked.“And you are most welcome,” he added with a chuckle.“And just to finish my previous thought, it is easier to accept the things you cannot change, like our overbearing, meddling Cousins who love us very much, than running headlong into the speeding freight train that is…”

“Our overbearing, meddling Cousins who love us very much?”