Page 34 of Don't Let Me Break
MACKLIN
“Hey, Mama,” I greet, kissing her on the cheek. The house smells like bacon and vanilla, thanks to the different foods scattered on the white granite countertops.
“Aww, my baby!” Mama gushes. Wiping her hands on her sunflower apron, she turns around and pulls me into a hug. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. Where’s Dad?”
“He’s at the office. Some kid got hit with a puck in the mouth this morning, and he's trying to save the boy’s front teeth.” She grabs my chin and shakes my head back and forth. “Reminded me of you and your brother.”
I laugh and pull away from her. “So, Dad’s allowed to miss Sunday Brunch, but I’m not?”
“Oh, because eating your Mama’s delicious food is so hard to do.” She smacks the back of my hand with her spatula as I reach for a piece of bacon.
With a laugh, I shake off the sting. “Can I help with anything?”
“Why don’t you grab the trays and set them on the kitchen table,” she offers. “Blakely and Theo will be here any minute.”
“Blakely’s coming?”
“Yes. She also invited a friend, but I’m not sure if she’s joining us. It was still up in the air, apparently. I invited Hazel and Miley, too, but they said they couldn’t make it.”
I pause as I start to pick up a tray of food.
I’m not sure if it’ll ever get easier. Hearing my daughters’ names while knowing they don’t want to see me. I messaged them earlier today. Told them I was thinking about them. Miley said thanks, and Hazel didn’t respond.
Part of me wonders if she’s ever responded to her grandma’s texts, but the other part of me doesn’t want to know, terrified Hazel’s only grudge is with me. That I’m the problem. The one who caused irreparable damage with no tools or opportunities to fix it. I should be glad she isn’t icing out everyone on my side of the family. At least it’s something. Some kind of connection she can build. Some sort of knowledge that she's loved. That she’s missed.
It takes a few trips, but I grab the bacon, French toast, omelet dish, and blueberry muffins and move them to the sitting area as requested. I’m setting the last of the trays onto the table when the front door opens.
“Mama Taylor!” Blakely yells, and my mom’s head pops through the kitchen entrance.
“Blakely Thorne!” Mama raises her hands in the air. “Get your cute butt over here, girl!”
Blakely races toward her and wraps her arms around my mom.
“Look how big you’ve gotten!” Mama gushes.
Blakely laughs and pulls away. “It’s so good to see you!”
“You too. How’s your mama?”
“She’s good,” Blake answers. “Told me to say hi.”
“Good. You sure she doesn’t want to come and eat some breakfast with us?”
“She’s actually hosting Colt and Ash this morning,” Blake explains. Colt is Blake’s older brother and Theo’s best friend. Their family lived down the street from us growing up. They were all really close until Blakely and Colt’s father died in a car accident a few years ago. My mom did everything she could to help, but the family needed time to process everything.
Life is weird.
How it can change at the drop of a hat.
Leaving everyone feeling like they’re spinning out of control.
It takes time to adjust.
To find a new routine.
A new normal.