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Pulling another blanket and pillow out of a hall closet, I lie down on the couch and fall asleep myself.
“You’re still here.”
My eyes flutter open, and I find a ten-year-old boy smiling down at me.
“Hi,” he says cheerfully. “You and Mom slept in.”
“Caleb?” London sits up, confusion on her still-sleepy face, and she checks the time. “Caleb! Damn it, we’re late. Go get dressed right now.”
“Drew’s still here,” he points out, and I am grateful that I didn’t join London in the bed last night like I wanted to.
“Yes, I see him. Go get readyright now.We have to leave in twenty, or you’ll be late for school.”
“I guess I’ll miss breakfast again,” he says to me with a shrug and then hurries off to his bedroom.
“Shit,” London mutters as she stumbles out of the bed and heads straight for the bathroom.
I decide to go downstairs and be useful.
I find milk that hasn’t expired in the fridge, some cereal in a cabinet, and a banana. Caleb comes hurrying into the kitchen just as I finish slicing the banana.
“Eat this,” I say, pushing the bowl to him.
“Wow, Mom’s never made it like that before.”
“Do you like bananas?”
“Sure.”
“Then you’ll like this. Start shoveling it in your piehole, kid.”
Caleb smirks and does as I say, taking a huge spoonful of cereal, and crunches happily.
London runs in five minutes later, looking put together but rushed.
“You’re eating.” She blinks at Caleb and then turns to me. “You did that?”
“It’s just cereal, but it’ll get him through until lunch.”
“You’re a lifesaver,” she announces as she wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight. “Thank you. I’ll throw your lunch together, buddy.”
“Can I get hot lunch today? It’s pizza day.”
“Even better,” I say with a wide grin. “Pizza day.”
“That works,” she says with a nod. She looks frantically around, like she’s searching for something.
“What do you need?”
“Coffee. For God’s sake, I need coffee.”
“Already poured.” I pass her the mug and watch as her glazed eyes fixate on the liquid, and she pulls it to her lips, taking a long sip.
“I might marry you after all,” she decides as she sighs. Then her eyes widen in horror. “I didn’t mean—”
“I know what you meant.” I pat her shoulder as Caleb stops eating his cereal and watches us with serious eyes.
“Are you getting married?”
