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Brown paper bags and high-end reusable totes covered the island. Fresh fruit filled two large decorative bowls on the counter, and there were cartons of farm-fresh eggs, multiple packages of thick-cut bacon, sausage, artisan bread, bottles of juice, cereal boxes, fresh vegetables, snacks, and enough premium bottled water stacked against the wall to carry us through another global pandemic. Things were stacked across the marble counters that I knew for a fact had not been there when I went upstairs to bed the night before.

“What the hell?” I blurted out.

Willow turned her head toward me, giving me a bright grin. “Good morning to you too, sunshine.”

I pointed a trembling finger toward the loaded island. “Where did all this come from?”

She casually followed my finger toward the groceries before returning her full attention to the sizzling griddle. “The store, Lakelyn. Where else?”

“Okay. Well, where did you get the money for it?”

That girl twisted halfway around from the stove, instantly offended.

“Well, don’t say it like I’m some broke charity case one declined transaction away from standing outside with a cup. I have a little money. But you’re right,” she admitted, her attitude softening. “I am not banking at the level where I wake up and casually stock a refrigerator like I’m preparing for the apocalypse.”

Willow raised the spatula and pointed toward the island lined up with food.

“That is exactly what I walked into this morning. I came downstairs thinking I was about to pour myself some cereal. To my surprise, when I turned the corner, the island looked like somebody had won Supermarket Sweep and used this kitchen as the finish line.”

I rolled my eyes in exasperation.

“I’m serious!” she continued. “There were bags everywhere! Fruit arranged all pretty, meat stacked up, snacks Kaidence likes, Granny’s yogurt… everything! Then I opened the refrigerator and it was packed too. I saw that fancy imported butter you like that costs enough to come with a payment plan, and I said, ‘“Oh, Lakelyn must’ve went shopping while everybody was asleep, so I started cooking”.”

I stood there trying to process that ridiculous explanation while she continued casually flipping pancakes as if groceries appearing overnight was a perfectly normal Saturday occurrence in our lives.

“I did not go shopping,” I let her know.

The spatula slowly lowered, and Willow’s smile disappeared. “Well... that changes the mood. Because if you didn’t get all of this, then who did?”

I took in the endless grocery bags covering the island, mouth twisting to the side. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

I marched past her, went straight to the refrigerator, and yanked the heavy doors wide open.

My mouth fell open in total shock.

Willow hadn’t exaggerated.

The refrigerator was packed from top to bottom, every shelf and drawer filled like somebody had carefully planned a full grocery haul instead of randomly throwing food inside. What unsettled me most wasn’t how much was there, though. It was how specific everything seemed to be. Whoever had stocked this kitchen hadn’t simply bought groceries. They knew what we liked, what Kaidence reached for first, what Granny could eat, and even the little things I normally bought without thinking twice about them.

I slowly closed one of the doors, then opened it again as if everything might somehow disappear the second time.

It didn’t.

That was the part that made the hairs along my arms rise.

I shut the refrigerator door with a solid thud, then I immediately opened it again.

Willow watched me from the stove, one brow arched high. “What you doing?”

“Making sure I’m not losing my damn mind.”

“Well, if the groceries disappear when you open it again, let me know so I can finish cooking first.”

I slammed the door shut again, whirling around. “Willow!”

“What?!”

“Are you not even the least bit concerned about this?”