“You get up earlier than this when you’re at work,” I stated matter of factly.
“They pay me.”
“Mom’s making breakfast,” I tried again to entice her to come for breakfast. If anything could do it it would be Mom’s cooking.
“Hmm, give me twenty minutes.”
“Meet you there.” I hung up noticing we were much closer to our destination. We turned down my mom's street, drove to the end where he pulled up to the curb across the street from the house.
“Thank you,” I said as I rushed out the door. I crossed the street and pulled out my keys to open the door. I tried my hardest to keep quiet as I made my way through to the kitchen. It was a guarantee that Mom would be awake but the other two rugrats still had about half an hour of sleep before they’d need waking up.
“Mom?” I whisper shouted into the empty kitchen.
“In here,” she called back from the laundry room before re-emerging with her full to the brim laundry basket. “I was just about to call you. What would you like for breakfast this morning?”
Walking over I kissed her cheek and took the basket from her. “Whatever you want to cook is fine with me, but Naomi is on her way over.”
Mom hummed before deciding,“I suppose I better make waffles then.” She chuckled and went about the kitchen pulling out ingredients. I placed the basket on the floor in the doorway, I’d take it upstairs when I went to wake up the kids. I poured myself a cup of coffee before plopping down on one of the breakfast bar stools.
“So, how was your night?”
“Fine.” I smiled into my cup as the vague reply slipped off my tongue. We were a close-knit family, which meant that we were naturally nosy. Not giving details was practically a sin.
“How’d the date go? And before you pull out another fabulous story, you’re still wearing the clothes you left here in last night.”
“It was good.” My smile dropped. It had been a good date, really good. But then what I’d heard this morning erased all of that. Two steps forward and five steps back. I was now back in a worse place than when Callum walked back into my life two months ago.
That could’ve been his plan, to get a little revenge on me. It didn’t sound like him at all but what the hell did I know anymore? I clearly didn’t know him. The Callum I knew was faithful and honest, he never would’ve pulled anything like this.
I almost felt sorry for his wife but I didn’t. In my mind, he was still my Callum, he always would be. But I knew for sure that I couldn’t have been the other woman.
“What’s the frown for? What’d Callum do?”
Ugh. “He’s fucking married,” I growled out, frustrated at the truth behind my words.
Oh shit.
My head fell into my hands as I realized that I had indeed just confirmed that I had been out with Callum last night.
“Who’s married?” My sister answered, making her appearance into the kitchen known.
“Callum.” My mom responded.
“I’m sorry, Mom. It’s just been so complicated between us that I didn’t want you guys to get your hopes up. I know how you feel about the situation.”
I sighed out loud. So much for keeping things to myself, I should’ve known better by now.
“Wow.”
Naomi took the stool next to me and reached across to steal my coffee. “Are you sure?”
If I had been in a better mood I might have laughed. What a silly question. Of course, I was sure. I nodded my head with pursed lips. We sat in solemn silence as Mom poured the batter into the waffle iron. I was silent because there was nothing more I could say on the subject. He was married, end of conversation.
There were no ifs or buts about that.
“I’m going to go get the girls up, the air in here is depressing.” I picked up the basket on my way out, before making my way upstairs. I had been tempted to stop and hear what my mom and sister really had to say about the pickle I’d caught myself in but that probably would’ve made me feel worse. Instead, I soldiered on.
I dropped the laundry basket off on Mom's bed before inching open the door to the guest bedroom slash my daughters’ second bedroom. They were both tucked in and still sound asleep. I loved watching them as they slept, it was so peaceful but unfortunately, we didn’t have time for that, the girls had school to get to.
