Page 27 of Second Down Scrooge

“Why don’t you let me take care of breakfast?” I’ve picked up a few skills over the years since I take care of myself. I’m self-taught through trial and many, many errors, but I can whip up a pretty mean omelet. It’s a skill I put to use once or twice for Kelly when we were together before, but we didn’t spend enough time together to really experiment in the kitchen the way I always wanted to.

“Since you’re an amazing chef, I will take you up on that.”

She sets Mia in her highchair with some Cheerios while she mixes up a bottle, and I grab everything I need to put together a decent omelet. It’s simple, but it’s good fuel to start our day.

While my creation cooks, I grab a bottle of ketchup from her fridge, and she makes a face at me.

“What?” I ask innocently. I already know what’s coming. She’s said it to me before, and somehow it makes me feel a little closer to her.

“You remind me of my dad. He always puts ketchup on everything, and it grosses me out.”

I grin. “Stretch up for ketchup.”

She wrinkles her nose. “I don’t know what that means, but I’ll take your word for it.”

I make her a cup of coffee with a splash of cream and two sugars. When I set it in front of her, she looks up at me with a bit of awe in her eyes.

“You remember how I take my coffee?” she asks.

“When it’s something I care about, I never forget,” I say softly.

She picks up her cup and holds it in front of her mouth while I return to the stove.

I place her breakfast in front of her a few minutes later, and I scarf my own down while she takes dainty bites.

“What are your plans for the day?” I ask.

“Work. I usually head in around nine even though the place has been open for hours by then.”

“Ava sounds like a good boss,” I say, and I set my fork down after my plate is clear.

“The best. And the best friend.”

“I, uh…you know I was sincere when I apologized to them last week. It’s important to me that you know that.”

She nods as she stares down at her omelet. “I know, and I appreciate that more than I can express.”

I glance at Mia, who’s holding onto her bottle, and I can’t help but think how much things have changed for Kelly over the last year when they’ve stayed virtually the same for me apart from the one day a week I spend with my daughter.

It’s not the first time I’ve realized how imbalanced things are. My career dictates my time, and Kelly and I talked about that when she was pregnant. She seems to get it, and she’s never once mentioned the imbalance. Yet I still feel it, and I wish there was some way I could change that. I want to be a part of my daughter’s life all the time, not just on Tuesdays.

I decide to tell her that. “I want you to know it’s not just them. I want to make more of an effort with you and Mia.” It’s my weak way of trying to express what’s on my mind even though I can’t quite make the right words come out of my mouth.

“I’d like that,” Kelly says. “And I know Mia wouldlovethat.”

“It shouldn’t all fall totally on you. I know it’s not the first time I’ve said that, but if there’s anything I can do to make things easier on you, just tell me.”

“I know, and I appreciate that just like I did the last time you said it. But you know how I feel about asking for help, and I don’t want to miss out on anything when she’s little. I want to keep her close while I can.” She shrugs a little and sets her fork down, her plate clean now, too. “That was delicious, by the way.”

“Thanks,” I murmur as an idea occurs to me. The words fall from my lips before I can stop them. “Move in with me.”

Kelly stares at me, her jaw falling slightly open. She coughs a little, and then she clears her throat. “What?”

“Move in with me,” I repeat, the idea taking root and forming into something I wasn’t expecting.

She tilts her head a little as if she’s studying me, trying to figure out what I’m getting at. “Are you serious right now?”

“Look, I’m doing what I can financially to help with Mia, but it isn’t enough. I want mornings with the two of you. I want to be part of the bedtime routine every night…forbothof you.” My eyes move to hers as I make sure she catches my meaning. It’s clear she does. “Like this morning—doesn’t it justfeelright? Breakfast together, you getting a little time to yourself while I read books with Mia after you didallthe work yesterday.” I shrug. “I feel like I’m missing the small things now, and I don’t want that to mean I’m going to miss the big things later.”

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