“I, uh—I didn’t want to wake you, honey.” Jess and I still hadn’t told Gina of our new arrangement. I was risking her catching us by staying in Jess’s room, but after last night, Jess and I were closer than ever, and I wasn’t willing to leave her side quite yet after we got home last night.
“Whatcha doing?” she asked, climbing up onto one of the kitchen chairs.
“I’m making breakfast for everyone; want to help?”
“Yeah!” she exclaimed.
I shushed her, and she slapped a hand over her mouth, and she slowly turned around toward the hallway.
“Bring your chair over,” I said. “You can whisk the eggs.”
While I had to correct Gina’s whisking methods a few times, she was able to complete the task with little mess.
Chloe came into the room shortly after. “What is this?”
“It’s a small token of my appreciation for everything you’ve done for us.”
She placed a hand on her chest. “Well, it’s that sweet. It’s me who should thank you for getting my daughter down here and all that.”
The toast popped up from the toaster, and I started to butter them so they would melt and remain soft until we all sat down.
“Can I help ya?” Chloe asked.
“No!” Gina said, firmly. “You should sit.”
I smirked. “You can help yourself to some coffee.”
Chloe wagged her finger at Gina, and my daughter squealed with delight. I had done the same gesture before I tickled her. She assumed a tickle was coming from Chloe too.
“If you would allow it, chef, I can squeeze some fresh orange juice.”
“I love orange juice,” Gina said. “Can I help?”
“You can watch,” Chloe said. “The juice press loves to eat little fingers.”
Chloe pretended to eat Gina’s fingers, and she giggled. The two of them set up on the opposite counter, and Chloe started cutting up oranges.
When the breakfast was plated and ready to be served, Jess still hadn’t emerged from the bedroom. I put everything on the table and excused myself to go get her. I had the urge to be in her general vicinity at that very moment. Last night was wild, and my attachment to her had grown immensely. I hoped to make her a permanent fixture in my life when we returned to the States. And since Gina loved Jess so much, I didn’t think my daughter would have a problem with our new arrangements.
When I opened the door to the bedroom, Jess was sitting up in bed.
“Morning,” I said and sneaked a kiss on her lips.
“Morning,” she said, raking her fingers through her hair. “Did Mom cook again?”
“No,” I said. “I did.”
“You did?”
“Yes, now hurry up before it gets cold.”
Jess pulled the sheets aside. She’d slept in the same oversized t-shirt from the previous night. After our beach escapade, we were exhausted when we got home, and she pulled on the first thing she saw.
I went back out into the kitchen and Jess was close behind.
“Mornin’, sleepyhead,” Chloe said.
“Mornin’,” Jess returned.