Marla stuck her tongue out at Charlene, and they exchanged identical sour faces.
Dwayne reached for the cards and opened the box. “Am I going to have to referee you two all the way to the end of the line?”
The Surfliner crawled into the long tunnel in the Santa Susanna Mountains separating Ventura County from Los Angeles County. Marla yawned when lights winked on in the car.
The conductor made her way through the coach checking tickets and chatting with passengers. Dwayne handed over their tickets. “Any chance of getting a cup of coffee?”
“Absolutely. Self-serve coffee and juice are at the end of the coach, and the snack bar is two cars back.”
He stood. “Shall I bring you two hot babes a cup of coffee?”
“Oh, yes, please,” Marla said.
“No coffee for me. I’ll have juice,” Char answered.
“You got it.” He walked to the back of the slightly swaying car.
“How can you keep your hands off that hunk of man? He makes my heart go pitter-pat.”
Marla pointed at her twin and smiled. “He’s off limits to you, Charlene.”
“Oh pish, I have my own Dempsey. He’s all yours. That doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate him for the next few hours, does it?” Charlene crossed her slender legs and bobbed a sandaled foot.
Marla leaned forward and whispered in a conspiratorial hiss, “Have you ever wondered what it is with Danaher women and Dempsey men? I mean, even our mother had the…whatever it is.”
“You always have to analyze everything, don’t you? Me—I’m just going to sit back and enjoy it.” She reached up with her hand as Dwayne returned with the drinks. “Thank you, Dwayne. What is it, cranberry?”
“That’s what it says on the bottle.” He handed the other cup to Marla. “Here’s your coffee, honey. You want a doughnut or something from the snack bar?”
“Thank you, yes, whatever looks good.” She tilted her head back for his kiss.
“You look good.” He kissed her soundly.
Char put her hand on her chest when Dwayne walked away. “Oh lordy, I could have an orgasm just looking at that man.”
“Charlene!”
“What?”
“You and your mouth.”
“Tell me you don’t feel the same way, Miss Starchy Pants.”
Marla rolled her eyes. Would she ever get used to her sister’s every thought rolling off her tongue for the entire world to hear?
Her cheeks caught fire when she noticed the man across the aisle grin and then quickly hide behind his newspaper. Mortified, that’s what she was, mortified. “I love you Char, but sometimes I want to slap duct tape over your mouth.”
Dwayne soon appeared carrying a tray loaded with a variety of snacks. He set it on the small table. “Did you finish your coffee already? I’ll get another cup for you.”
“No, sit, I’m fine for now. What did you bring us?”
“Good stuff, doughnuts and three breakfast sandwiches. Take your pick.” He sat next to her and winked lasciviously at Charlene.
Char pointed her finger at him. “Careful. Your brother has a jealous streak.”
Dwayne said, “I can take him down in under a minute.”
“Hmmm?” She lifted a sandwich off the tray and removed the paper wrapper. “Have one of these, Marla. Packed with nutrition, loaded with the three essential food groups. Fat, salt, and carbs.”
Marla helped herself to one of the sandwiches. “Smells good and I’m famished. Thanks, Dempsey.”
“Any time, Danaher.”
Dwayne stretched out his legs and pulled the bill of his baseball cap over his eyes. “I’m gonna grab a few Z’s, ladies.” And just like that, he was out.
Marla’s eyes grew heavy and she leaned into Dwayne’s shoulder. “I can’t stay awake another minute, Char.”
She woke to find herself on her side with her head in Dwayne’s lap. He joked with the man across the aisle, who was in the middle of a card game with Charlene. “Better quit while you’re ahead, buddy. That woman takes no prisoners.”
Marla moaned and sat up. “How long did I sleep?” She smoothed down her hair and rubbed her eyes. “Gosh, I went right out.”
Dwayne grinned and stretched his back. “We noticed. You slept about two hours.”
Charlene leaned forward. “I didn’t know you snored, sis.”
Marla jerked back. “I do not snore! Do I, Dwayne?”
He kissed her. “I’m taking the fifth on that one, honey.”
She snored? They had to be teasing her. She couldn’t imagine anything more embarrassing than being caught snoring on a crowded train. She tossed back her hair and stood. “I’m going to the ladies room.” She stepped over Dwayne’s legs. “Excuse me.”
He let his hand brush her hip and bottom as she stepped across him, and chuckled at her offended glare. “Hurry back.”
Dwayne leaned into the window and searched the arrivals platform as the train glided into the Spanish Colonial style San Diego Union Station. “There’s Donovan.”
The three of them stepped off the train. “Donovan!” Charlene called and waved. She ran to meet him and jumped into his arms, legs around his waist and arms around his neck.
Dwayne shook his head at the look of adoration on his little brother’s face. Donovan was a goner, for sure. “Looks like he’s glad to see her. What do you think?”
“I’m going to kill Char if she breaks your brother’s heart.”
What about his heart? Had Marla given any thought to that? “Hey, baby bro!” The two men bumped fists and slammed into each other like hockey players who’d just scored a goal. “How’s it going?”
Donovan took Charlene’s bag. “Come on, I’m parked in a pick-up zone. Don’t want to get ticketed.” He put his arm around Charlene’s shoulder and hugged her to his side.
Dwayne followed suit and urged Marla after them. “Yeah, I’m itching to get my toes in that swimming pool.”
Donovan grinned over his shoulder. “You mean the five you’ve still got left?”
“Watch it, kid. I can still whip your ass.”
Laughing, the four of them piled into Donovan’s none-too-new Range Rover and fastened their seat belts as he pulled away from the curb and waved to the traffic enforcement officer.
“That was close.” Charlene said, and gave the uniformed woman a big smile.
Donovan drove a couple
