Can't Stay Hidden

Family

I wake up to someone shaking my shoulder. I groan and roll over, not ready to get out of bed.

"Sissy, wake up! I want breakfast." Sam says and I open my eyes and see his precious little face with the same pout mine often has and can't help but let out a little laugh. I immediately swoop him up and throw him on the bed next to me attacking him with tickles.

"Sissy... STOP... I'M...HUNGRY" He tries to say but his laughter breaks up his words as he tosses and turns trying to get away. I let him out of my grip and watch as he slides off the bed and tries to catch his breath.

"So, what do you want for breakfast?" I ask as he starts to calm down and I realize he will not leave unless it is to go get breakfast. I slide out of bed and stretch as he enthusiastically yells " CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES PLEASE!"

"Well, then we better get downstairs and figure out how the heck to make those!" I say almost matching his enthusiasm while I have a very real concern that we will end up burning the house down. "Sammy, where's Sera?" I ask as we go downstairs and I still don't see her.

"Sera's getting dressed in her room." He says and I nod. I feed the dogs and then head outside with them while Sam sits inside watching cartoons. If I am going to make pancakes, I need help. So I decide to call Sandy because I'll take any excuse to call her.

I call her and she answers after a few rings, sounding very lively for it only being 7 AM.

"Good morning, baby. Are you okay?" She asks her voice laced with concern.

"Hi, babe. Yes, I'm fine. I just need a little help?" I say a little embarrassed

"Okay, I'm surprised you're up this early. And should I be scared? What do you need help with?" She says with a little chuckle.

"Sammy woke me up to make him breakfast. I'm honestly surprised he's up he normally sleeps in like me. Anyway, I need help making chocolate chip pancakes. That's what he wants for breakfast and so I was wondering if you would tell me how to make them?" I say.

"Oh, of course. I'll send you the recipe for how I make mine. A little trick is to make them thin so you don't burn the outside and you can be sure the inside is cooked." She says and I can feel her smile through the phone.

"Thank you, babe. I'll see you on set in a little bit. If I were you I'd pray that I don't set anything or more importantly anyone on fire." I say half-jokingly.

"I will but I'm sure you'll do great and I'm proud of you baby for cooking. I know you hate it. I'll see you on set in a little bit okay?" She says making me smile.

"Okay, bye Sandy."

"Bye, princess." I hang up the phone and head inside. Sera has joined Sam on the couch watching cartoons and I stop and kiss both their heads, earning a groan from Sera but a big hug from Sam. God, I am turning into Mom.

I go to the kitchen and pull out my phone, I read the recipe from Sandy and then start to pull out all the ingredients. I grab a bowl and put all the ingredients together in the bowl, honestly impressed with my mix. I grab a pan and turn on the burner before I put the first two lumps on the pan and watch them cook. They come out pretty good and I make six more, only having to throw out one that was a little too crispy.

I pull out plates and utensils and fill two cups with orange juice and make myself a coffee and then call them over to eat. Sam eats five pancakes while Sera eats three and I just have my coffee since I'm not a big breakfast person anyway. While they eat I clean up the kitchen and I listen to them bicker and giggle like they always do. After I finish cleaning the kitchen I go upstairs and clean up the little mess we had left in my Mom's room.