~*~*~
Amy woke slowly, groaning as she rolled to her back. Her body ached in places it hadn’t in a very long time. She lay there for a moment before she turned onto her side and pushed into a sitting position. Thankfully the nap she’d taken had refreshed her, but she hoped she wasn’t toolate in getting ready for dinner with Will. She’d only planned to rest for a few minutes after finishing the clean-up.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she pushed back the mass of curls that slid over her shoulder as she reached for her phone. She flipped it over to see the time. Six o’clock. Well, it looked like it might be a late dinner, but hopefully Will would understand and forgive her tardiness. She pulled off the fairy costume and dropped it on the floor on her way to the bathroom. After removing the painting Rose had applied on her face, she redid her makeup and left her hair loose.
Not sure where they would be going, she decided on a jean skirt that ended just above her knees and a sleeveless button-up shirt in soft pink. She slipped on a pair of white sandals and grabbed her purse before heading out of her room.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she realized that the house seemed way quieter than she would have expected. Maybe everyone was outside. She walked down the stairs and found the kitchen clean and empty of people.When she grabbed the handle of the back door, she found it locked.
Dread filled her as she pulled her phone out again and looked at the time. Now it said six thirty…AM. She’d not only slept through her date with Will, but she’d slept all night. Shoulders slumped, she sat down at the table. How could she have done something so dumb? She’d only planned to lie down for a few minutes. Her feet and back had been aching, soshe’d taken some pain pills before lying down. Clearly her body had decided it wanted more than just a nap, and apparently the adrenalin let-down had guaranteed she slept the whole night.
What did Will think? Their first date and she’d missed it.
“Well, if it isn’t Sleeping Beauty.”
Amy turned to face her brother, a scowl on her face. “Really?”
Josh grinned. “You look very nice. Going somewhere?”
“Shut up.” Amy pushed her phone to the center of the table and got up to make herself some coffee.
Dressed in a pair of athletic shorts and a t-shirt, Josh leaned against the counter. “You know, he understood. He was disappointed, sure, but he knew you were tired. Lance said you’d been up since before seven.”
Amy shot him a wary look as she started the coffee pot. “He told you about us going out for dinner?”
Josh nodded. “He sent Rose up to check on you after we got back from dropping off the stuff at the church. Apparently you were one passed out fairy.”
She pulled a mug out of the cupboard. “You want coffee, too?”
“Sure.”
After putting two mugs on the counter, she stood watching the coffee drip into the carafe. She felt an arm around her shoulders and looked over to see Josh watching her, his expression serious.
“You really feel something for Will?”
Amy turned her gaze back to the coffee. She wasn’t sure she was ready to have this discussion with her brother without at least one cup of coffee under her belt. Thankfully she was spared from having to respond when Lance joined them.
“Hey, you’re up early,” he commented when he saw Amy.
“Funny. I actually thought it was six o’clock PM. As in, last night. Imagine my surprise when I realized I’d just slept twelve straight hours. So yeah, I’m up early. Or late. Depending on how you look at it.”
Lance chuckled. “I think that’s a first.”
“And hopefully the last,” Amy commented as she pulled another mug from the cupboard. Once the coffee was done she poured it into the three cups. “At least I’m ready for church in plenty of time.”
It wasn’t long before others began to join them in the kitchen.Sinceshewasup andready,Amy tackled making breakfast for the group. Charlotte showed up and insisted on helping out with the pancakes while Henry set out plates and cups and then cut up some fruit.
“Are you staying with Jessa?” Cami asked Lance. “I’d be happy to hang with her if you’d like to go to the service.”
Lance’s brow furrowed. “I usually stay with her, and we watch the live feed together.”
“Why don’t you go this time? I’ll watch with her.”
“If you’re sure,” Lance said, not sounding one hundred percent convinced.
“I’m positive. You’ll just have to help Josh with the kids.”
“Oh, well, in that case...” Lance grinned. “Just kidding. I’ll talk to Jessa about it when I take her breakfast up.”
