Checking to be sure Ember is back in a deep sleep, I slide out from under her. “I’ll make some coffee.” Atlas turns to leave, and I pull a t-shirt from the pile sitting on the dresser. I’d set them there yesterday,when I was moving my stuff in. There wasn’t enough room in her dresser, and I was going to get a new one. Yesterday feels like a lifetime ago.
I walk into the kitchen, finding Atlas rummaging through the refrigerator to find food.
“You want a coffee?” I ask her, heading to my little coffee station in the kitchen.
“Oh hell yes, Ember has been bragging to everybody about your skills in the coffeehouse,” Atlas says, turning around with vegetables, eggs, and milk overflowing in her arms. “Is there bread? I was thinking French toast, just to be quick.”
I look around and don’t see any. “I can run to the store when they open?” I tell her.
“No, no, let me check out the pantry.” She rushes over, throwing the door open. I move to turn back, to reach for my ground coffee, when I see Atlas’s head dropped, her shoulders shaking.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay.” I walk over to her. Atlas feels like another sister to me, and my heart breaks for her. I know my love for Ember is wild and deep, but nothing is like the love of two sisters who have been through hell and back.
“She’s safe, Atlas, and I promise he can never hurt her again.” I let her sob into my chest until she pulls back.
“Likeever?” She looks me in the eye, and I know what she’s asking me.
“Chase took care of it, there’s no chance in hell.” She wipes her eyes with her sleeves.
“Okay, okay, lets get her some food,” she says, clearing her face and taking a deep breath. Once I’m sure she’s okay, I resume my coffee making.
We work in silence before Atlas’s voice cuts through. “Harley?” she asks, and when I look over, her eyes are on the Bisquick mix on the counter. “Did he assault her?”
I feel like this is Ember’s story to tell, but I know her sister means well. “Yeah, her mind and her body.” My body floods with anger and hate for Dean. If he were still alive, I’d kill him all over again. She shakes her head, and we both go to work, preparing breakfast for Ember in silence as we mourn the trauma she will spend a lifetime recovering from.
I finish up Atlas’s coffee and set it in front of her. She snatches it up quickly and takes a long drink through the straw. “Fuck, Harley, that’s good as hell. The baby loves it.”
I smile and offer her a small thanks, a little embarrassed at the praise.
“No, seriously, you should open a shop.” Atlas continues sucking down sweet drink. “We don’t have anything outside of the Sea Lady coffee, and that’s always burnt and tastes commercial as fuck.”
I laugh, seeing that she’s just as picky as her sister about her caffeinated drinks.
“I’ll consider it.” We work together making Ember breakfast—Belgium waffles, scrambled eggs, sliced strawberries, and a large coffee, just the way she likes it.
The sun is shining, and we’ve got all the food laid out on the kitchen island like a buffet when Asher strolls in carrying Aria. Aria immediately reaches for her mama and squeals when she spots the strawberries on the counter. I snag three berries, quickly slice them up, and put them on a plate for her.
“Thanks, man,” Asher says, nodding at me in thanks.
Aria goes crazy with the strawberries, and they’re gone before I know it. We all laugh. I watch Aria focus on the eggs before her eyes shoot to the kitchen doorway. I follow her gaze and find Ember.
Ember stands there, and part of my heart drops. The bruises are more visible now, and the bite marks are undeniable.
I walk over to her, slowly placing my hands on her face, kissing her forehead gently. “I hope you’re hungry, Atlas and I got a little carried away.” Just then, Aria screams and wiggles, and Atlas places her on the floor where she toddles over to Ember. Ember looks down, snatches her up, and curls her into her embrace. Her eyes are closed, but I see the tears beading up in the corners. I give her the space she needs, so she can have her moment. I know Aria means the world to Ember. She’d light the world on fire for her.
Atlas is sobbing into Asher’s chest, and finally walks over to Ember, embracing the two girls clinging to each other. They both just cry. My heart swells, and I feel the familiar sting of tears lining my eyes.
Finally, Atlas places a kiss on Ember’s head, just like I did, and squeezes her one more time. Aria wiggles, and Ember puts her back down, and she runs over to me, putting her arms up, and my heart swells. “It’s because I gave you food, huh, pretty girl?” I pick her up and put some scrambled eggs on her plate. I pull up the chair and sit down, Aria in my lap, shoving eggs into her mouth.
“I made you a coffee, sweetheart,” I tell Ember, pointing to her iced coffee on the counter. She quickly makes her way to it and sucks it down.
After we finish up breakfast, we make our way into the living room. I turn on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for Aria, and Ember snuggles into me.
“I think we’re going to head home, give you guys some space,” Atlas says from the other end of the couch, grabbing hold of Ember’s hand. “If you’re okay with that?”
“I’m okay, Atlas, you guys get home. Get Aria settled.” She pats Atlas’s hand and gives her a grin. Atlas smiles back and gets up to begin gathering their things.
We stand on the porch and watch them pull out of the driveway. Ember looks up at me once they’re out of sight. “I know you just moved most of your stuff in…”
