I’m not expecting anyone, which means it’s either Earl or—
“Hello!”
Dorothy and Delilah Bloom stand in the kitchen doorway, clutching cake tins. They beam like dropping in to see me is a perfectly usual occurrence instead of something they’ve never done before.
“I hope it’s okay we let ourselves in,” Delilah says, smiling brightly.
“We were in the neighborhood,” Dorothy adds.
“May I ask why?”
The twins blink in unison.
“Because we were on our way here!”
Antonio giggles.
He will not stay amused for long, I think. Soon the Bloom sisters will start measuring his head for a crocheted balaclava.
He gets up from my lap, and I fight the urge to pull him back.
“Two sugars and a splash of milk, please,” Dorothy says, giving me an expectant look before sitting down.
“Same, please.” Delilah nods at me, taking the seat beside her.
They turn toward Antonio.
“Cookies,” Dorothy offers, lifting her tin.
“Muffins,” Delilah adds.
She points to the chair next to her.
“Sit down with us.”
Antonio hesitates, his fingers worrying the hem of his shirt. He stays where he is.
I brush his hand before I start preparing the coffees.
“I see you were having breakfast,” Dorothy says, pulling a notebook from her skirt pocket. “The pancakes have excellent form.”
She inspects the leftovers.
“I assume Antonio made them?”
“He did,” I say proudly, adding the required splashes of milk.
“I drew one as an example,” Dorothy says, showing us a wobbly circle.
“Why are you documenting our breakfast?” I ask.
“For Earl and Steve,” Delilah explains. “They are very invested.”
I sigh.
“Of course they are.”
“Earl’s really worked himself up,” Dorothy says. She peers at Antonio. “His special friend from Finland is coming to dust.”
