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“Heavenly Father,” he said quietly, “thank You for this morning and for Sage. Bless this food to our bodies…” Cal paused, straight-faced, then added, “and Lord, please watch over our stomachs today. Amen.”
Sage’s eyes popped open mid-prayer. She stared at him, lips twitching.
Cal kept a perfectly straight face as he released her hands.
He took a forkful of eggs.
Chewed.
Sage watched him with her chin resting in her hand, eyes expectant.
“Well?” she asked.
His mouth felt… not great.
“Good,” he said. “Might be the best I’ve ever had.”
“Really? They’re not too salty?” She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
He was actively dehydrating with every bite.
“No, no… these are perfect.”
“Cal.”
“Mmm?”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not. They’re great.” He coughed, eyes watering, and chased it with a long drink of juice. “Is… cough… is there more?”
Sage stared at him. He powered through another heroic forkful with pure willpower.
She picked up her own fork, took one bite, and immediately spat it out. The egg hit the wall with a wet splat — which wasn’t that big of a deal, considering the wall was already decorated with juice.
They both watched it slowly slide down.
“They’re terrible,” she said, almost in wonder. “How did I make them this bad? There were only four steps…”
Cal felt bad. Without thinking, he picked up a strip of bacon. It snapped like dry wood. He ate both pieces anyway.
Sage watched him, mortification giving way to something softer and brighter. “Oh my God. You don’t have to eat it.”
“I’m fine, sweetheart. This is a great meal. You did great.”
Her eyes went bright and wet, caught somewhere between laughter and tears.
“You’re not fine—”
He stood, crossed to the window, cracked it open, and held a strip of bacon outside.
Brutus lifted his massive head from beside the chicken coop. Nose twitching. The grizzly hauled himself up — fourteen hundred pounds of dignity — and lumbered over. He took the bacon, chewed once, stopped, looked at Cal with clear betrayal, huffed loudly, and spat it out. Then he turned and walked away like a disappointed gentleman.
Sage’s voice came from right behind Cal, very quiet. “Did your bear just reject my cooking?”
“He’s… a vegetarian,” Cal said solemnly.
Sage covered her mouth, laughing silently, eyes sparkling.
