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“Now tell me this wasn’t worth the drive,” Sage said.
I took a deep breath and nodded. “You win this one for sure. I feel guilty eating all this food. You cooked this all by yourself?”
“Travis helped,” Sage said.
Her son looked bewildered. “I did?”
“You turned on the mixer…”
“Oh, yeah,” Travis said. “I’m a professional chef now.”
I laughed. “He’s quick with the comebacks.”
“You have no idea,” Sage said, flaring her nostrils.
I was quick with the comebacks as a kid too.
I still am today…
“At the very least, can I do the dishes?” I asked.
“Travis is going to load the dishwasher,” Sage said. “Right?”
“Really, Mom? On a day like today?” Travis asked.
Sage’s eyes grew wide. “You’re lucky, mister. Go upstairs and relax. We have to get ready soon.”
Travis smirked with a victory but he wasted no time darting from the dining room table.
“Wow,” I whispered.
“Yeah,” Sage said. “He’s sometimes too smart for his age.”
“Going for the emotional gut punch. Smart kid.”
“Very,” she said. “I get it though. I just wanted today to be as normal as possible.”
“Which you know is completely impossible to do.”
“Yeah, I know.”
I reached for her but stopped myself.
“Sage. It’s okay. It’s okay for today to be a mess or whatever you need it to be. You’re not alone.”
You have whoever was texting you, right? ‘My love…’ That’s what they called you.
I stood up. “Scrambled eggs, bacon from an air fryer… which was amazing, by the way. Sausage links. Pancakes. This is a feast.”
“Stress cooking, Henry. This isn’t every morning.”
“Ah, I get it. You’re trying to impress me.”
“Caught me,” Sage said.
I started to collect the plates.
Sage tried to stop me but I hushed her.
