Canary in a Coal Mine

(Sounds good! I'm a lil tired tonight so not sure how well I'll be able to brainstorm but we can get started on it anyway ^^)

Sadie and Meyer were shopping together. They'd gotten their sickening cutesy couple behavior out of their system in private and were more or less being respectable now, though Meyer kept making Sadie giggle through mischievous comments he whispered too quietly for anyone else to hear. Sadie was mostly focused on Meyer, not really noticing the people around them. Meyer was hyper-aware of their surroundings, as always -- but pretending not to be so as to not stress Sadie out by his paranoia.

(Sounds good. I'm tired too, so maybe we start brainstorming tomorrow?)

Then again, she'd basically raised them after the incident, so it made sense that she'd be overprotective of them. They owed a lot to her--he, Mary, and even their dad. Maybe especially their dad.
Martin started down the pasta aisle, scanning the rows. Eventually he supposed he'd have to let his dad meet the kids, too. He'd met Martin's wife Paula at the wedding, but he'd only met David out of the three kiddos, and David had been far too young to remember. As far as Martin knew, Mary hadn't even invited him to her own wedding.

(Sounds good to me!)
(also not me wanting to make a WAP reference two decades too early lol)

"You know what would be fun?" Meyer gestured at the pasta.

"What?"

"Pasta chaos," he said, picking up a box of rotelle, a box of orzo, and a box of shells. "We just cook them all together. It'd be like a pasta puzzle."

"I think they've got different cooking times," Sadie said, taking the boxes to glance at the directions. "The orzo would probably get mushy by the time the rotelle finished."

"So we cook separate, and then combine?"

Sadie smiled, glancing at him. "And then pasta chaos."

"Pasta chaos."

"Sure, why not." She set all the boxes in the cart.

"Yessss!" Meyer leaned in to give her a peck on the cheek, glancing up as he saw Martin enter the aisle. He didn't recognize the man, but he didn't look threatening. Still, he'd need to keep an eye on him to be sure. Especially given the last job.

(Heheeh)

Martin caught sight of Sadie and smiled. "Oh, hi Sadie! Fancy seeing you here."

Meyer felt a prick of jealousy, but actively forced it down. Sadie was a big girl; she was allowed to be friends with whomever she wanted to. Still. He was more curious to know who this man was now, though.

"Oh, hey! Uhh... Martin, right?" Sadie smiled, giving a little wave.

"Yep, that's me." He paused, glancing at Meyer. "Hi."

"Hey." Meyer nodded to him, then glanced at Sadie.

"This is Meyer," Sadie offered, gesturing at him. "My husband. That's Martin Aspen."

"Aspen?" Meyer gave him a quizzical look, but stepped forward to offer a hand.

"Hi, Meyer." Martin shook his hand heartily. "I take it you know my dad, then?"

"Not well, I'll admit," Meyer said, shaking his hand firmly. "But it's nice to meet you."

"You as well." He glanced back to Sadie. "Look, I feel like we didn't properly thank you for your help the other day...would you and Meyer want to come to dinner tonight? I'm making pasta salad."

"It really wasn't a big deal," Sadie said with a smile and a little shake of her head. "I feel bad that you all feel bad. It took like five minutes." That was a severe exaggeration. But. Still. She didn't regret it a bit. And she'd barely thought of it since.

"Even so, we'd like to make it up to you. It's not a small thing you did, seriously."

"I mean..." Sadie glanced over at Meyer, trying to gauge his reaction. He shrugged, seeming indifferent. She looked back at Martin. "You certainly don't need to... but... well... I wouldn't say 'no' to a new friendship. So... if you're sure it wouldn't be too much of a bother?"

"Not at all, not at all! We've got plenty of room." He smiled brightly. "We'd be happy to have you. Do you need the address again?"

"Nah, I remember the way." Sadie returned the smile. "What time should we show up?"