“Must have been a bad dream,” he says, chuckling as he strokes my hair. His touch is so familiar, so achingly familiar.
“Something like that,” I whisper.
Then I turn to my mother. My mother, who only a few weeks ago couldn’t even get out of bed. Who couldn’t even recognize me. The one that wasn’t really alive. “You’re… okay, right?” My voice trembles.
Her smile falters for a moment, turning into a frown. “Of course I am! Why wouldn’t I be? Do you have a fever? Are you sick?”
“Yeah, Addie, you’re acting really strange,” Naomi says, her mouth full of blueberries.
“That’s disgusting, Naomi,” Sam mutters, cringing.
My father then gestures to the plate in front of me, smiling warmly. “Go on, lift it.”
I do.
And as I do, he slides a pancake onto it, but his aim is just a little off. The pancake slides over the edge of the porcelain and flops onto the floor with a soft, wet sound.
A few blueberries roll away.
I flinch. “I’m so sorry,” I say quickly, instinctively, already bending down to clean it up.
But a hand touches my arm. Gently.
“It’s not your fault,” Mason says from beside me.
I freeze, then my head snaps up to look at him.
“I—what?”
My father laughs softly from across the table, reaching for another pancake. “He said it’s not your fault.”
I stare at him. “You…?”
“Well, family,” Father announces suddenly, cutting me off, and brushing his hands on his apron, “I should be on my way, or I’ll be late for my first class.”
“First class?” I echo, confused.
He glances at me, equally perplexed. “Don’t you remember? I’m teaching my first class today.”
He’d wanted to be a teacher. A long time ago. My throat tightens, but I force a smile. “That’s great, Dad.”
He kisses the top of my head, and I close my eyes, holding onto the moment.
“You’re not even dressed,” Mason teases as he stands. “School starts soon. Come on, I’m taking you all, and I don’t want to be late.”
“Or she could just call her boyfriend to take her,” Sam adds, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“Boyfriend?” My voice cracks as I stare at him, jaw dropping.
“Kai? You’ve been together for months now.” Sam tilts her head. “Hey, are you sure you’re okay?”
Kai’s here too?
“I…” I start, but my phone rings, saving me from answering. I glance at it, then at the faces around the table, my pulse thundering in my ears.
“Go on, take it,” Mason says with a grin.
I step away, lifting the phone to my ear. “Hello?” My voice trembles.
