Page 12 of Aidan

“I’ll make us some breakfast.”

Aidan follows me into the kitchen. “We should talk.”

I shake my head. “Later. When little spouts with big ears aren’t around. They’ll probably be out here soon.”

He nods. “Can I help?”

The offer surprises me. I’ve never pictured him as someone who knew how to cook. “If you don’t mind getting milk, butter, and an egg out of the fridge, please.”

While Aidan does that, I get the rest of the ingredients out of the cabinet and preheat the oven. I don’t make scones every Saturday, but today feels like a special treatday after the mess of yesterday.

“I could use a cup of tea, if you don’t mind,” I tell him. “There’s also coffee if you want.”

“Sure thing.” He nods and gets to work filling the electric kettle. He’s been here enough times to know where the teabags and coffee are kept.

I measure everything out, drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto my baking sheet, and just as I put it in the oven, Kellen walks in. He pauses at seeing Aidan standing there.

His gazes darts between the two of us and comes to rest on me. “Is he here because of those guys from yesterday?”

My younger brother has always been too smart for his age. I’m not sure if it’s because of the large age difference between us that he’s almost like the oldest child or something else. Whatever it is, there’s a maturity present in him this morning that I’m not sure was there before. Nearly thirteen is still too young to be worried about or dealing with what’s going on.

“Aidan just missed us so much, he couldn’t stay away.” I laugh, trying to make a joke.You didn’t think his presence here all the way through did you?

Of course, Kellen side eyes me, clearly not believing my obvious lie.

“I came back because I have a proposition for your sister,” Aidan speaks up.

My gaze darts in his direction.A proposition?

“What kind of proposition?” Kellen echoes my silent question.

“Something she and I need to discuss first.”

My brother cocks his head, but he doesn’t press the issue. A few minutes later, Carson stumbles in rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He drops his arm and also stops at the sight of Aidan.

“Will one of you set the table and the other go wake up your sister, please?” I ask before more questions pop up.

The boys exchange glances—and their own unspoken language—and then Carson turns around and heads down the hallway he just came from. In the meantime, Kellen gets dishes and glasses from the cabinet, silverware from the drawer, and places them on the table in front of each chair.

I fill up the kids’ glasses with orange juice and take the cup of tea Aidan passes to me. A few sips temporarily satisfy me and then I grab the jam and cream from the fridge and place them on the table as well. My timer goes off and I bring the sheet from the oven. Carson and Aisling stroll in, the latter’s hair a tangled mess.

“Everyone sit. We’ll be back in a second.” I take my sister’s hand and guide her to the bathroom.

Aidan’s voice carries in behind us as he talks to the boys.

“I thought Aidan went home,” Aisling says as I run the comb through her hair, taking care not to tug each knot.One in particular gives me some trouble and she winces.

“Sorry, little nightmare. He did, but he missed us so much he came back for another day or two.”

At six, she hasn’t learned quite yet to detect lies and takes what I say at face value. “I missed him, too.”

“All done.” I tap her on the shoulder and set the comb on the counter. “Let’s go get some breakfast.”

We walk into the kitchen and Aisling gives Aidan a hug before taking her seat. I put the scones in a basket and set it in the middle of the table before sitting as well. “Dig in.”

* * *

After the kitchenhas all been cleaned up, the five of us head out for a walk along the old Railway Walk trail. It’s overcast, but the temperature is pleasant.

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