Questions can wait until the morning

Your first night back in Midway you sleep like a rock, even though you slept the whole way on the train just about. The next morning you are up early at the crack of dawn. There’s a tension like a coiled spring in you when you do get up, worried that you’re going to be late for a job you no longer have. The relief you feel is immense when you realize that that job, apartment, everything that made up your life yesterday is several states and a time zone away. Here, your bed is warm, your sleep deep, your place secure. After so many bad nights in the city, you could get used to this.

You groggily get up, and go to the bathroom. It’s coming back to you now, even in the dark you know the layout of this house like the back of your hand. Even if the color and the pictures on the wall are different, the furniture rearranged, you know the floorboards and the drywall. You relieve yourself and on your way back to your room you nearly bump into Lex as she exits what, in your opinion, used to be your dad’s office.

“Morning.” She yawns.

“Good morning.” You reply, giving her room to pass you in the hallway. You feel your eyes latch onto her as she walks away from you headed for the bathroom as well. She looks like she ought to be your sister, but the fact that you know you have no childhood memories of her gives you the heebie jeebies. You narrow your eyes at her. You wouldn’t forget that you had a sister, right?

You wander downstairs to the kitchen and start making coffee.

“What are you doing up so early?” Lex asks, surprised, as she comes into the kitchen just a moment later.

“Oh, I usually get up this early.” You reply, searching for bread to make some toast.

“Why?” Snorts Lex, rummaging through the fridge.

“Work mostly.” You answer. “What about you?”

“Practice.” States Lex.

“Practice?” You repeat.

“Yeah, practice for the wrestling team started right after the winter break.” She offers, yawning again.

“Oh.” You comment. “This early?”

“Yeah, it sucks but it's the only time that the team can get the rec reserved.” She sighs.

“Hey,” you ask, “where’s the bread?”

“Bread box, roller desk looking thing over there.” She replies pointing, while pulling out a blender from under the cupboard. As you make a palatable breakfast of eggs and toast over the stove, you watch Lex haul out milk and fruit from the fridge, ice from the freezer, protein powder from the cupboard, and organize it next to the blender.

“Whatcha making?” You ask, observing her pouring her ingredients into the blender.

“Breakfast smoothie.” She answers, and turns on the blender, which might as well be as loud as a chainsaw this early in the morning.

You sit down to coffee and your eggs and toast as she finishes up pouring her smoothie into a cup and leaving it on the counter in the kitchen. A minute later she comes down again, changed into sweats and a duffle bag in hand.

“See you later.” She says as she grabs her smoothie and heads for the front door.

“See you Lex.” You reply as she is out of sight. You sit with your coffee and your questions and your thoughts for a long time there.

“Morning John.” You return from your introspections as your dad comes into the kitchen, grabbing an apron and getting breakfast started in one fluid motion.

“Morning dad.” You reply, taken aback by the sight of your dad wearing an apron. What is the world coming to? You never remember your dad cooking at home before, even grilling was a bridge too far for him. He nearly got you all thrown out of a neighborhood backyard barbeque after he made all of the steaks well done.

“Made breakfast for everyone or just yourself?” He chuckles.

“Just me.” You answer.

“Only breakfast for four then.” He sighs and starts eggs, bacon, and toast seemingly all at once. You chew your food slowly as you watch him work. Shit, you have to think, he’s a really good cook.

“I can see you staring.” Your dad states. “Want an egg or two too?”

“Definitely.” You mumble.

“Sunny side up or easy over?” He asks.