This Kiss

Chapter 69

When Olivia woke on Sunday morning, it was to the smell of bacon and coffee. Rolling over, she glanced at the clock and was confused. It was only 8:15a.m. There was no way Natalia was home from church yet. Sleepily, she got out of bed and tossed on a robe and made her way downstairs. As she reached the kitchen doorway, she stopped short. There were her daughters, standing in the kitchen making breakfast. Emma was covered in pancake batter and Ava wasn't much better. Emma was standing on a chair in front of the stove helping Ava flip pancakes, Olivia could smell bacon, but didn't see any. Deciding she had watched long enough; she entered the kitchen.

"Morning my beautiful daughters."

Both girls turned and spoke in unison. "Morning mom."

Olivia kissed Emma's head and then Ava's cheek. "And what are you two making this morning? Besides a mess."

Both girls giggled as Ava handed her mom a cup of coffee. "Pancakes and Bacon."

"Mmm, bacon. Where is this yummy bacon I smell?"

"In the oven. A friend of mine in San Francisco taught me to make it that way. It's less messy and you don't have to worry about getting popped by grease. Four-hundred degrees for fifteen to twenty minutes will give you perfect bacon every time."

"Well, you know me, never met a piece of bacon I didn't like."

"Yes I know. I'm under strict orders, two pieces only."

"But Aaavvvvaaa." Olivia whined.

"Sorry mom, Natalia scares me more than you do."

"Yeah mommy, when Natalia gets mad it's scary." Emma added.

"And I'm not?" Olivia asked. Raising a hand to her chest in mock shock.

Emma snickered. "Mommy you're mad more than Natalia. I'm used to it."

"Oh, you're used to it cause I'm mad all the time. Come 'ere, I'll show you mad." Olivia grabbed Emma into her lap and tickled her until she was begging her to stop.

"Stop mommy, stop." Emma yelled giggling.

Olivia stopped tickling Emma and slid her off her lap. "So, what's the occasion?"

"Nothing. We need breakfast. Rafe or I made breakfast every morning while you two were gone. Then whoever didn't make breakfast made dinner." Ava answered.

"Sometimes we all cooked together. It was so much fun mommy. I like having Ava and Rafe babysit."

"You do? Well good. I like having them here with you too. So, Ava, when's your flight home? I can't tell you how much we appreciate you staying here so we could go to Chicago."

"Oh, it's no problem mom. I had a lot of fun playing house with my little brother and sister."

"You and Rafe really got close over this week didn't you?"

"Yeah, we all did. The three of us really helped each other this past week. I think it was something we all needed."

"I'm so glad honey. Rafe has been making a lot of changes in his life and doing so much better, but I still think he was having a little trouble with me and Natalia. I'm so glad you were able to help him."

"Yeah. I mean, he's like, my little brother, so, of course I helped him. And he helped me too. It was a really good week."

Ava set the pancakes on the table and pulled the bacon from the oven. Placing it on a paper towel covered plate and blotting the top to remove some of the grease.

"This smells delicious. Thanks girls."

"You're welcome mom." The two girls said together.

All three sat down and made plates. "We can eat now. Natalia and Rafe ate before church." Ava proclaimed smiling at her mom. "Natalia asked me to tell you that they would be home a little late. Something about needing to speak to Father Ray. She said she would pick up lunch for us."