Mind Games

“He let me borrow it, since I don’t have mine.”

“I got Spider-Man.”

“Do you want to use it?”

“Okay.”

Since she was there, she supervised the procedure, the messy procedure, and made him laugh when she used a washcloth to rub the foam off his face.

“How about breakfast?”

“Is it Saturday?”

“No, it’s Thursday.”

“Aw. I can have Froot Loops on Saturday.”

“I could make pancakes.”

His dimple flashed on with his smile. “I like pancakes. You pour syrup on pancakes.”

“Then I’ll go get dressed and make pancakes.”

“I’ll tell Daddy!”

She put on her dress, and out of habit, made the bed. Smoothing the sheets brought on images of what she and Ty had done on them.

Not intrusive, she decided, and plumped the pillows. A memory that belonged to her.

Downstairs she found father and son, both still in their boxers, in the kitchen.

“I let the dog out. He seemed to appreciate it. Don’t know how you take your coffee. I heard a rumor about pancakes. I have this.”

He held up a box mix. Thea spared it one pitying look, then opened the fridge.

She found one lonely egg, a nearly empty carton of milk, half a stick of butter. And closed the fridge.

“I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we have breakfast at my house? You could help me feed the chickens, Bray. And Bunk’s gonna want his breakfast, too.”

“Okay!” Bray headed for the door.

“Maybe you could put some pants on first. Is that all right with you?” she asked Ty.

“If it includes pancakes, I’m for it. Let’s get dressed, pal. I’ve got a grocery list,” he added as he went out of the kitchen.

Minutes later, they were back, dressed, hair somewhat tamed. It made her wonder how men managed it all so quickly.

“We’ll drive up, so I can run to the store after.”

So they piled in the car, Bunk included, for the short drive up the lane.

“Chickens!”

“They’ll be happy to see you. Go on and say hi, and I’ll be right there.”

“You haven’t even had coffee,” Ty observed as they went in the front. “How do you form coherent sentences before you’ve had coffee?”

“One of my many superpowers. I’ll get some after I feed the animals.” She picked up her egg basket, got a container out of the fridge. “Help yourself if you want more.”