Page 65 of Whispers on the Water

Entering the kitchen, I’m greeted by the rich aroma of coffee. Already bustling around the coffee machine, Penny moves with an ease around her sleek appliances. “You know you look like mom when you do that,” I tell her, watching a wave of surprise wash over her.

“Damn you, Elaine!” Penny yells. “Don’t scare me like that.”

I’m laughing at her white face as I settle onto a barstool. “Jumpy as always I see.” One of my favorite games to play as a kid was sneaking up behind her and seeing how high I could get her to jump. Our mom hated it and called me a ‘wicked child,’ but I didn’t mind, probably because it was a little true.

Penny, still wearing a slight frown, pours me a mug of coffee and slides it across the counter. The first sip is heavenly, and I moan in delight. “Beans from Costa Rica. Thought it might make you feel more at home,” she says.

Overwhelmed by the luxury surrounding me, I have to ask, “Okay, that’s it. What in the hell do you do to afford all this?”

As Penny retrieves a tray of muffins from the oven, she shares, “Real estate agent. But I stopped selling homes to focus on Clark. Joshua is a lawyer. His firm is going to work on your case by the way.”

“A lawyer?” It’s a reminder of my past with Kevin, making me wary.

Penny, setting down plates and distributing muffins, reassures me, “Disgusting men have a myriad of jobs, Elaine. Not every lawyer beats their wife.”

The sound of my name from her lips stings. Looking at the plate of muffins, I try to muster the courage to ask for what I want. “Can you call me Sam?”

“Sorry, Sam… Of course. But I’ll have to work on it. It’s totally weird,” Penny says, just as the sound of little feet pattering down the hall catches our attention. Annie bursts into the kitchen, with Greg trailing behind, looking sleep-ruffled and shirtless.

Annie suddenly climbs onto my lap, catching me by surprise. I freeze up, not sure how to react. I had half expected to bribe her with secret candy and maybe toys to get her to like me. She waves me down and whispers in my ear, “He’s grumpy.” I shoot Greg a questioning look over my shoulder.

He leans in to kiss my cheek, dismissing Annie’s claim. “No, I’m not. Annie just jumped on our bed while I was still asleep and hit the wrong spot. I may have let a curse word slip.”

Penny and I share a laugh as Greg takes a seat beside us. Penny serves Annie her breakfast, then leans back against the counter, the morning chaos settling into a moment of domestic warmth.

“Miss Annie needs to get ready for school. Momma and Auntie Sam have errands,” Penny announces, setting the tone for the morning.

“Who’s Auntie Sam?” Annie’s curiosity piques as she turns her questioning gaze towards me.

“That’s me. I changed my name,” I say.

“Why?” Her innocence in the question leaves me searching for words, and I glance at Penny, hoping for backup, but she just shakes her head with a smile.

Greg leans in, swiping a piece of Annie’s muffin. “Well, it’s like how you like to be called Annie. She likes to be called Sam.” His analogy seems to do the trick, and Annie, now somewhat satisfied, swings her legs back and forth, a small smile playing on her lips.

As we continue our breakfast, Penny hustles away with her daughter to get her dressed. Greg and I are left alone in the kitchen, nibbling on the still-warm muffins Penny cooked.

He is uncharacteristically quiet. An unsettling observation in light of everything going on. Through it all, Greg has been vocal about trying to cheer me up. After too long without speaking, I ask, “Greg? Are you okay?”

His brow furrows as he looks at me. “Of course. Why?”

“You’re being quiet.”

“Am I?” Even the way he said it, I know something serious was on his mind.

“Are you mad?”

He recoiled at the question. “Not at all. If anything, maybe I’m just worried.”

“About me?”

“Among other things,” he said. I tilt my head. He is being evasive.

With a shove, I push my plate away and brushed the crumbs off my palms. “What other things?”

His shoulders slump a little, and he rubs a hand over his face. “I erm, resigned from my job.”

“You what?!” Of all the things he could have said, this was the least expected.

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