Page 84 of The Holiday Fakers
She jumps up, ripping her eye mask completely off, then sags when she sees me and pulls out her earplugs, putting them on the nightstand.
“How did you sleep?” I ask.
She yawns and pins on another fake-looking smile. “It was okay. You?”
I don’t know how to reply, so I make a non-committal noise.
Throwing back the covers and getting out of bed, Piper grabs some clothes, then heads to the door. “I’m gonna get ready, then go get coffee.”
“Sure. I’ll see you downstairs.”
For someone who was asleep less than a minute ago, she’s certainly awake now and can’t get out of the room fast enough. I stifle a shout of frustration as the door closes behind her.
After Piper makesher way downstairs, I use the bathroom, then join her in the kitchen.
“Morning, son!” John calls out. “I’m just telling Marv and Cara all about the sock-running championships.”
“And I’m making breakfast,” Erica adds. “Same as yesterday? It’s gonna be another long day.”
“Thanks, that would be great,” I reply, wishing a quick “good morning’” to everyone before going to Erica’s side. “Can I help?”
She bats my arm away. “Absolutely not. And anyway, you don’t know where anything is.”
“What are you getting out next?”
“The eggs and bacon.”
I know this is a trick question, but I move to the refrigerator first.
“See!” Erica crows. “You don’t know.”
I take the bacon out, then reach up to a cupboard where I know she keeps the eggs in a ceramic bowl because she says they should always be kept at room temperature.
“You were saying …”
She laughs. “Okay, you got me there, but you’re still sitting down. Go! Scoot!” she says, shooing me away with a wooden spoon.
I can either sit next to Cara at one end of the breakfast bar or Piper at the other, and I know how weird it would look if I chose the wrong end. So, I pull out the chair next to my fake girlfriend as she sprinkles cinnamon into her coffee, then adds half-and-half.
“Butsocks?” Marv is saying, like people need to get with the program and use proper footwear.
“Hideaway has lots of Nordic roots,” John replies. “It’s like running barefoot, but warmer. Want to have a go?”
Marv chokes on a mouthful of coffee, and Cara whacks him on the back.
“No thank you, Mr Mayor,” he finally manages. “I spent a lot of money on these shoes and they’re staying on.”
“You’ll both need snow boots if you’re coming up to the reserve,” John continues.
“Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty to spare that’ll fit you,” Erica adds. “I’ll get an old pair of Hudson’s. And a warmer coat.”
“Thanks, that’d be great,” Marv replies, although he doesn’t sound enthusiastic about swapping his handmade Italian shoes for Hudson’s cast-offs.
My stomach rumbles as the scent of breakfast fills the air, and I try to think of something,anything, to say to Piper.
“You’re awfully quiet this morning, honey,” Erica says to her. “You coming down with something?”
Piper sits up straighter. “I’m fine, Mom.”
