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“Want me to shut the light?”
“No. Don’t. I’m not done looking at you yet.”
We laid there until Chase’s eyelids grew heavy. Mine were not closing any time soon. It was too busy in my mind. I was going over every detail that I could remember from the night of my father’s funeral. I tried willing my mind to remember Chase and his father, but all I could see were the smoke and flames.
Chase was right – life is short. Such a common statement, yet only now did I understand its true meaning. I had spent so much of my life focusing on my sick father; so much time wallowing in my own despair; so much time looking back on the things I could not change. Happiness was sleeping just inches away from me, now. I felt a sense of urgency taking over. I had wasted enough time. I needed to make a change, a vow to myself, that I would be better – more present – for the people in my life. I owed it to Tim.
The hours passed, and soon the sun began streaming through the windows in the Brooks’ house. I crept downstairs while everyone was still asleep. As quietly as I could manage, I began making breakfast: pancakes, eggs, and bacon. I wondered how Beverly slept, if at all.
Not before long, footsteps overhead signaled the family was awakening.
“I smell pancakes!” Khloe shouted from the top of the stairs.
“I smell bacon,” Chase shouted back. “I’ll race ya to the kitchen!”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Chase had emerged from his room in better spirits, if only for the sake of his family.
Both he and Khloe simultaneously slid into the kitchen. Khloe was the first to reach me, as she crashed into my leg.
“I won! I won!”
Chase pretended to run after her, which sent her flailing around the island, and into the dining room.
“I could get used to this sight.” I felt his hands on my waist and I flipped the last pancake onto the pan.
I smiled, leaning into his touch. “What sight is that?”
“You, making breakfast in my pajamas.”
“They’re a tad big on me,” I laughed. “Okay, go sit. Everything is done.”
He turned me around to face him. “Thank you for everything. I love you so much.”
I looked into his eyes, as I had once tried so hard not to do. “I love you,” I replied, reaching up on my toes to meet his lips.
“Alright, alright. You’re going to ruin my appetite,” Tanner grumbled as he lumbered into the kitchen.
“That would be a shame.” I walked past him with the heaping plate of pancakes in one hand, and the bacon in another.
“Mommy’s not up yet,” Khloe stated.
I set the plates down on the table in front of her. “Don’t worry. She’s tired. Let her rest.”
“But she’s always up before we are.” Her eyes were glued to the stairs just outside the dining room.
Chase took his usual chair beside her. “She was up really late last night.”
Her eyes were wide. “Why?”
“She was on the phone with our neighbors next door.” He gestured to the left with his thumb.
I watched as Tanner loaded his plate with everything I had laid out on the table. He remained standing, pouring syrup over it all.
“That’s gross.” Khloe scrunched her nose up in disgust.
“You’re gross,” he retorted.
“Am not.” She stuck her tongue out at him.
