Not So Natural (Revised)

Prologue

"Hi, are you Cassadee?" a man with close crop hair asked the girl sitting behind the counter. She smiled at him, "Yeah, I'm Cassadee. How can I help you?" "I'm Daniel, that's my brother, Jesse. We need your help," he replied. She gave him a confused look, "With what?" Jesse sighed looking bored. "Well, we're new to town and we broke down," Daniel said looking shy and embarrassed.

Cassadee nodded, "You own that truck outside?" Daniel muttered a 'yeah' as another girl walked in, she was much shorter than Cassadee. She stopped dead in her tracks and her hoodie string fell out of her mouth when she saw the two men. Cassadee beckoned her over, "Daniel, this is my cousin, Cecilia." Cecilia smiled at the very tall man, then looked at his brother.

"Hi, I'm Jesse," he introduced himself with a winning smile. Cecilia opened her mouth to reply when a little boy walked in. "Connor said his tummy hurts and Luke feels warm and Addie keeps crying," the little boy told her. "Justin, do you feel okay? Give Adam his binkie, bring Connor here and then give Lucas a popsicle," she told h whilst feeling his forehead. He pouted scrunching up his nose, "Can I have one too, Mama?" Cecilia's face went pale for a split second then went back to normal as a warm smile broke on her face. "Of course you can sweet thang! Now get going."

The two brothers had a confused look and when Cecilia caught it she grinned, "That's Justin, you'll meet Connor soon. Maybe even Lucas or the baby, Adam, if you're lucky." Justin came back in carrying another boy about three. "Connor, tell me what's wrong. Tell me baby," Cecilia asked the younger of the two boys. He grabbed for the girl, "Tum." She picked him up as she hushed him, "Honey bear go eat an apple, then go to sleep."

She handed the boy back to his brother who then walked away. "Now, what can we do for you boys?" Cecilia asked grinning. "You can't sweetheart, but we need your friend," Jesse grinned back, leaning on the counter. Just then, an older woman came in, "Do y'all sell canteens here? Silver ones?" Cecilia nodded and put one on the counter, "Six dollars, ninety-six cents please." The woman gave the needed amount and left. Cassadee turned the sign to closed, then turned back around looking irritated.

Jesse's phone started ringing loudly as Cassadee got back behind the counter. Cecilia rolled her eyes, "Can you turn that damn thing off? You'll wake the baby." Jesse glared at her, but did as she asked. A sharp cry cut through the new found silence. Cecilia gave Jesse a cruel look over her shoulder as she turned and stormed up the stairs. Jesse rubbed a hand over his face with a heavy sigh, "Sorry. Shame she hates me 'cause she's real pretty."

Daniel and Cassadee shared a look as Cecilia reemerged holding a baby who was quite red from his wailing. "Move it or lose it, Sasquatch," Cecilia muttered as she squeezed past the taller of the two brothers. "Here, hold him for a moment," Cecilia said handing the baby to Cassadee so she could put the baby's sling on. Jesse opened his mouth to talk, but Cecilia put a hand over it, "Don't."

She took the baby rocking him slightly before putting him into the sling. "You have some questions, go ahead and ask," Cassadee said. Daniel 's face broke into a grin, "I like you!" Cassadee's face went pink as she smiled back. The two older ones shared a look that said "Ew. Please don't make me endure you." While the elders were busy glaring the younger siblings exchanged numbers.

"What's up with the kids?" Jesse asked eyeing the sleeping infant. "My sister ran off and now I'm raising the boys," Cecilia replied smiling soflty. Daniel waved a finger gently next to the baby. Jesse went to do the same, but Adam started grabbing for his finger.  He gave her a genuine smile that made her heart melt a little as the baby began to laugh. Daniel checked his watch, "I'll text you later Cassadee, c'monJesse let's go." They left in a bit of a hurry with that. "Damn, he was hot! Shame he was a big ol' bag of dicks," Cecilia sighed. "Yeah, they were weird," Cassadee agreed. 

"Guess they didn't need help with their truck after all," the girls just started cracking up after that.