She grabbed the carafe from the coffee maker, filling it with water from the sink. She quickly set the coffee up to brew. “You guys good with buying lunch today or do you want me to make you something realquick?”
“Can I take my lunch?” Kimber asked. “I don’t like the stuff they give us at school. It’s alwaysmushy.”
“Yeah, baby. I’ll make you lunch.” She pulled down a jar of peanut butter and held it out toChris.
“What’s thisfor?”
“Toast.” She pointed behindhim.
The bread had popped up while he’d been assessing her level of anger. He took the jar and grabbed a knife from the drawer. She didn’t appear to be angry at all. Either that, or she was hiding it well. Given he’d never been able to read her under normal circumstances, he’d probably have to wait until the kids were on the bus before she unloaded onhim.
He set the toast on the kids’ plates and moved out of the kitchen. Leaning against the counter across from the kids, he watched Denise prepare their lunches. She seemed to do everything at once—taking coffee mugs down, pulling out fruit and vegetables, bread and lunch meat, sandwich bags and lunch containers. In less time than it took for him to find their colored plates, she had their lunches packed and ready togo.
“Okay, guys. Plates in the sink, then brush your teeth. We’ve got to hurry or you’ll miss thebus.”
“Aunt Denny, will you braid my hair today?” Kimberasked.
“Sure. Bring me your brush when you’re done brushing yourteeth.”
“Okay.” The kids hopped down from the stools and dropped their plates in the sink, before running to thebathroom.
Chris wasn’t sure if he should offer to help with something else or stay out of the way of their routine. He gathered up the remaining dirty dishes from breakfast and set them in the sink, running water over them so the food wouldn’tstick.
“You can leave those, I’ll wash themlater.”
“It’s no problem,” hesaid.
She didn’t say anything as Kimber returned with a brush and some hair clips. She climbed back up on the stool and folded her hands on the counter while Denise brushed out her hair. Denise’s nimble fingers gathered up sections of Kimber’s hair and quickly had it braided down her back. After securing the end, she clipped barrettes into thesides.
“There you go. Shoes on. Jacket on. Get your backpack. Kaden! Let’s go,buddy.”
“I’m ready, AuntDenny.”
Denise herded them toward the door, slipping into flip-flops, pulling a hoodie over her head, and grabbing her keys as she ushered the kidsoutside.
The silence when they left was deafening after the commotion of the last few minutes. He stared down at Sprocket, curled up on a dog bed in the corner of the dining room. “Am I supposed to wait for her or am I supposed toleave.”
The dog licked her chops, whined, and rolled to herside.
“Thanks. That clears thatup.”
Chapter 16
“Ilike Mr. Chris,”Kimbersaid.
Denise looked down at her. “Youdo?”
“Uh huh.” She swung their hands as theywalked.
“What do you like abouthim?”
“He makes goodeggs.”
She smiled at the simplicity of Kimber’s statement. If only the rest of life was as simple as whether or not someone could scrambleeggs.
“Did he ask you guys anyquestions?”
“Yes,” Kadensaid.
