Nicholas was someplace about, although nobody knew where, exactly.
“Make your call in Mom’s office,” recommended Lyndsay. “It’s open.”
“When you’re through,” Kourtnay told her, “you can show us how to make that shrimp salad everyone’s hollering for! Brett’s got your hot peppers ready. We’ve been hearing all about that pepper eating contest you people hold more often than I’d care to enter! What are the prizes? Stuffed animals?”
Thomi laughed. “No. A little gold plated trophy that my father and I designed. A little jalapeno guy and gal holding hands encircled in a heart fashioned by habaneras! It’s in Dad’s possession most of the time! I’ve held it only once! But I think they let me win it!” She headed out into the hallway. “I’ll be back!”
However, upon entering the office, she was star
