The Harper Generations

Are you insane?

Valentino

We returned from the apple orchard and had to explain to our fathers why my cousins looked rough. Our fathers stood before us as we sat on the couch.

"Walk us through the events that led to your faces looking like a truck hit you and backed over you," Uncle Romeo said, gesturing to my cousins' faces.

"Ryan and Preston got into a fight. River and Michael thought it would be cute to whip apples at them," I said.

"How did you manage to escape unscathed?" Uncle Pat cocked his head at me with his arms folded.

"Because I'm not stupid." I shrugged.

Dad rolled his eyes.

"Can you behave yourselves for one day?" Uncle Rafe asked us.

"Have you met us?" River asked.

Rafe stared at River with a raised brow.

"Isn't it better we beat the hell out of each other than others?" Preston asked.

"No!" My dad and uncles exclaimed.

"Did you forget who you're dealing with?" Michael asked.

"Oh, we know who we're dealing with. That thought hasn't escaped us," Uncle Marty said.

"Then you should know we fight," Ryan said.

Our dads cocked their heads and narrowed their eyes. Honestly, they didn't know how to deal with us. I'll give them credit. They try.

"Since the others enjoy beating the hell out of each other, I had an idea for the festival," I said.

"One problem at a time, Valentino," Dad said.

"But it's an excellent idea."

"Okay. What is your idea?"

"We could help make baked goods for the festival."

My cousins glared at me while my uncles and dad studied me.

"Why do you want to help?" Dad asked me.

"Because I started the bakery." My lips curled into a smirk.

"It's not a bad idea," Uncle Romeo said.

"Are you sure about this?" My dad asked.

I nodded in response.

"I don't have a problem with it."

"Neither do we," Uncle Pat, Romeo, and Marty said.

"Oh, I have a problem with it," Uncle Rafe said.

"How? You have the original owner helping you," Uncle Pat said.

"But I run the bakery." Uncle Rafe thumbed at himself.

"You can still run the bakery, dipshit." Pat rolled his eyes.

Dad had to separate Uncle Rafe and Uncle Pat before they threw down in our living room. "It's better the boys have supervision than not. I agree with Tino."

"Fine," Uncle Rafe said.

I rubbed my hands together in excitement. I couldn't wait to work in the bakery.

My uncles dragged my cousins home so they could deal with them. Better them than me.

Dad sat beside me on the couch. "You surprised me, Tino."

"How so?" I asked.

"I figured you would follow me into construction."

"That's not where my heart belongs."