“If you would let me give you a microwave, it would only take a few seconds. We’ll use canned ones then.” She went back to the pantry, returning with a can of blueberries.

For the next ten minutes, she whipped, poured, and flipped pancakes, filling three plates high. “Here you go.” She placed their plates on the table. “Don’t wait; eat them while they’re hot,” she said as she poured the last of the batter into the pan to cook seconds for anyone who wanted them. When she finished, she carried her plate to the table.

“These are excellent, Buttercup. You’re good in the kitchen, just like your mother.”

“One more thing. I ordered the supplies for the cats; they should be in today’s mail, several large boxes, I’m guessing. I bought a bit of everything.”

“How in the world?” her mother asked.

Lauren might as well spit it out. “I ordered them off the Internet. That’s how fast it is.” She waited for her father to rip her apart, but he didn’t say a word. But when he did, it was more than obvious he wasn’t pleased.

“That’s that man you’re going out to interview. The global thing.”

“Yes, it is. It’s called Globalgoods.com, with most deliveries next day. You just can’t beat it, Dad. I know how you feel, but this is the future. The future of your grandchildren, if I have any. This will be a way of life for them. It is now, for me, at least in a sense. I do all of my work via Internet, e-mail, you know that.”

He nodded.

“Mom?”

“Dear, you know how your father feels.”

“Ilene, I can speak for myself. Lauren, I don’t like it, and I can’t change who I am. I grew up in the retail business. I saw my father and grandfather working long and hard, and you know they were both—rather, Dad is still—financially sound. I just don’t get how people can buy something they can’t see, touch, or smell. I’m sorry, Lauren. I’ve got a lot of work to do. Someone didn’t dust and polish the shelves like I asked them to. Ilene, I’m going in early. Lauren, can you drop your mother off?” Back to his moody self again.

“Sure,” she said. “Pops, wait.”

He stopped, turned to look at her. “Let’s just agree to disagree on this topic. Deal?” She held out her hand to shake on it, something they used to do but hadn’t done in years.

Slowly, he reached out, took her hand in his, and gave it a good squeeze and shake.

“Deal, Buttercup.”

Chapter 17

Chapter 17