Chapter 65

“What? Oh, yeah.” I blew on the coffee and took a cautious sip. Tim was only interested in coffee for the caffeine; he drank any kind, including the cheapest store brands, but this was hazelnut, Cris’s favorite. Just like Peaberry Kona Viennese was mine, and even though Wills groused about the cost, he always saw to it we didn’t run short…I pushed him out of my mind. That act of caring—a fucking act was all it was. “I still say you should have someone come in and gut the kitchen, lay down a new floor, put in new countertops and cabinets, a new sink…”

“The appliances are what’re important. It’s gonna be nice to be able to open the oven without the door falling off.”

“We never cook in this kitchen, Tim. It don’t matter that the door falls off.”

I let their banter wash over me as I mixed together the batter and poured the first batch into the frying pan. All these years, and they still didn’t have a griddle.

“What’s on the schedule for today?”