Among The Wildflowers

𝕋𝕨𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕪: Boyfriends & Birthdays

The next morning, Gina wakes up early and goes downstairs to start breakfast. She smiles when she sees Nic asleep on the blow-up mattress. It's one of the rare times her daughter looks peaceful.

Once the bacon is in the pan, Gina begins to make the pancake batter. She decided to have the cafe closed today so she and her family could have some peace and quiet.

"Good morning."

Gina turns around to see Saoirse sitting at the table, her hair messy and eyes half closed.

"Saoirse, I'm sorry," Gina whispers,"did I wake ya?"

"Oh no," Saoirse says, dismissively,"I smelled bacon and ran downstairs."

"Good," Gina says with a laugh,"I hope you're hungry because I'm making a big breakfast."

A soft smile spreads across Saoirse's face,"I've missed big breakfasts. Brian and I usually have some ham and toast on our way to work."

"How is Brian?" Gina asks, stirring the pancake batter.

"He's good. I wish he could've come, but he had so much work to do."

Saoirse doesn't miss the mischievous look in her older sister's eye.

"So," Gina begins slowly, pouring batter into a buttered pan,"do ya think he's the one?"

"Regina," Saoirse teases,"how dare ya ask such a question."

"I was just wondering."

"Well the answer is yes."

Gina spins around to look at her sister and a smile breaks out on her face,"Yes?"

"Yes," Saoirse giggles,"he's the one."

Gina sets down the wooden spoon dripping batter, and wraps her little sister in a hug.

"Oh, Saoirse, love, that's wonderful! I'm so happy for ya!"

"Quiet down," her sister says with a laugh,"you'll wake the children."

Gina pulls back to look Saoirse in the eye,"Do ya think he'll propose soon?"

"I think so. Well, at least I hope he does. If he doesn't, I'll be extremely disappointed."

"Oh, this is so exciting," Gina says softly, turning back to the stove.

"What about you?"

Gina's hand stills, her grip on the spatula tightens.

"What about me?"

"Well, have ya found a man yet?"

"I'm not interested in finding a man."

"Gina," Saoirse says, gently,"ya can't live in the past forever."

"I'm not," Gina says, a little too harshly.

"Will left almost fifteen years ago. I know ya loved him, but don't ya think it's time to move on?"

"I ain't talking 'bout him," Gina snaps, her back still to her sister.

Saoirse leans back in her chair and sighs,"Okay, ya don't have to."

"Good."

"But if ya never talk about what happened, you'll never fully move on."

The conversation is interrupted by the sound of Nic waking up and getting off of her mattress.

"Not a word," Gina warns, her voice low.

Saoirse doesn't acknowledge the threat, she simply smiles at her niece who is wiping sleep from her eyes.