* / 𝖏𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖘𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖊

𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 -- “ a strong woman is one who is able to SMILE this morning like she wasn’t crying last night.“

𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 '𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖' 𝙞𝙫𝙮-𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮 -- “ i can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.“

𝒌𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒌𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒆 𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒍 𝒖𝒑𝒕𝒐𝒏 --  " i prefer being wrong in my own way, than being right in someone else’s.“

“ i would never say no to you, just let me get chanel.“ willa whistles and the small pomeranian rounds the corner in a hurry -- earning a laugh from the brunette, who would have thought such a small little ball of fur could run so fast ? she grabs the leash and hooks it on. and then turns towards her sister with a beam. “ ready if you are ! how can i say no to a walk ? it feels like it’s been awhile since we last got to chat and just hangout.“

“ i don’t know how i feel that you somehow guessed what i sometimes order.“ willa typically got a vanilla latte; but her regular was anything caramel. “ did it just entirely ruin the whole drink ? i got a mocha crumble coffee the other day with two espresso shots it ruined the whole drink, but it woke me right up.“

“ there’s a cotton candy frappuccino ? i must be living underneath a rock.“ willa’s eyes widen slightly, now that she hadn’t heard about. “ it sounds like a sugar high. i think that just means i have to try it and i’ll get my regular too. just in case.“

“ isn’t cold brew typically bitter ? and i kind of get that i usually need a lot of caffeine to get me through long shifts. and that’s not such a bad thing at all, i’m that way sometimes too.“ willa as an emt, juggling that and another job -- and then school ? needless to say she lived on coffee.

“ oh, gosh.” mallory pauses momentarily to think about it, another sure sign it had been too long since she’d read a book. “ a little bit of everything. i love a good fantasy book, or any kind of book that takes you somewhere different. does that make sense ? “

mallory gives that of an apologetic smile, she’s sitting at the table and in the middle of making a peanut butter and banana sandwich. “ hey alex.“ she couldn’t have imagined how the tate kids felt and that it had to have been a lot of change. “ i’m not sure ? i looked for some earlier and couldn’t find it either. aside from the empty carton..”

“ that’s what dads are for isn’t it ? “ katie puts out both of her hands, the bleach mainly on her fingers and a little bit on the palms of her hands. “ it’s okay dad, we’ll figure it out together. hopefully we can figure out some way to stop the burning. and i can honestly say ? i’ll never do this again. not without gloves.“

“ it WAS pretty dumb of me, wasn’t it ? “ katie should have figured that it had to have been too good to be true. “ at this point i’ll honesty try anything and now i know to never, ever do that again.“

“ sounds like a plan.“ katie says almost immediately regardless of how eager it may have made her sound. it wasn’t as if that weren’t true. “ now i know what to bake for you. i know the perfect brownie recipe too -- just the right amount of chocolate and the right amount of soft.“

“ i wouldn’t say that at all, i used to be quite the reader when i was younger.“ the words are spoken reassuringly and mallory has a smile to match.“ it’s been ages since i’ve even FINISHED a book. so i’d say you have the right idea-- i figured with my newfound free time i might as well read. do you happen to have any recommendations ? or any favorites ? since you’re such a reader and all.“

willa is glancing upwards at the board of coffee options, not feeling like going for her regular. not that she particularly needed anymore caffeine for the day. but nobody needed to know that.“ so what would you recommend ? i feel like trying something new.“

“ it’s fine, no worries.“ mallory reassures with a wide smile. the brunette had decided to checkout a few books to occupy her time--with her on leave from work and having not much to do, she figured when was the last time she had finished a few books ? college probably. so it couldn’t hurt. “ i do the same thing when i’m focused and don’t realize what on earth i’m doing. or how much room i’m hogging up.”

“ figures the one time i need mom she’s not here.“ it’s a huff that leaves katie’s mouth, although she’s just frustrated. “ i don’t know.. maybe ? you know of anyway to get bleach off my hands ? “

“ i don’t know WHAT i was thinking.“ katie is mentally scolding herself for thinking that she should use bare hands for bleach and not gloves. “ can you help me, please ? i’ll take any help i can get at this point and does lemon juice really help with the smell ? “