Eliza

9

—DANTE—

I walk into the kitchen at seven in the morning, furrowing myeyebrows when I see Mia sitting at the counter, on her laptop—which looks to be in extremely poor condition.

"Why are you up so early?" I ask her.

She snaps her head over to me, surprised. Then, quietly, she whispers, "I'm looking for job listings."

I furrow my eyebrows. "I already told you I'd pay for—"

"You're welcome to pay for things for Eliza, obviously, but I don't expect you to pay for me, and I'd like to provide things for Eliza too, and the boys."

I sigh. "Alright."

Maybe that'll mean she'll leave Eliza with us alone more, if she's going to work. The thought makes my lips tick upwards, and I walk over to the other side of the counter. "Coffee?"

"No thank you." Her eyes are glued to the laptop. I make myself a coffee, black, and turn to look at her again.

"Find anything yet?"

"A cashier at a shop."

I crinkle my nose. "I can help you find something."

"It's okay." She persists. "I can do it myself."

     "Suit yourself." I mumble. I take a long sip of my coffee, head snapping over to the door when I hear Easton shout.

     "Daddy!" He wails.

     I set the coffee down, and Mia's eyes follow me, alert. I rush out of the kitchen, then up the stairs.

I push open the door to Easton's bedroom and rush over to him. I sit next to him on his little car bed, where's he's sobbing loudly. I lift him up onto my lap and wrap my arms around him. He grabs the fabric of my shirt in both of his tiny little fists and holds on tightly.

"It's okay, baby." I whisper. "Shhh."

"Daddy!" He sobs.

     I begin to rock him back and forth, running my hand through his short blonde hair. "It's okay, you're okay. Look, you're in your room, not your nightmare."

He whines, sobbing again, but his cries slowly start to fizz away until he's just silently holding onto me.

I look over at the doorway, where Mia is standing, concern on her face. My jaw hardens. "He's fine." I look down at my son and my eyes soften. "Come on, let's get you some nice hot chocolate, and I'll turn the fire on downstairs for you."

     I stand up, carrying him on my hip. I walk past Mia, then make my way downstairs. I take Easton into the living room and set him down on the couch closest to the fireplace. I turn it on and ruffle his hair on my way to the kitchen.

Mia is back at the kitchen table on her laptop. "Is he okay?"

"Yeah." I respond.

"I didn't know he had nightmares."

"You don't know anything about him." I respond.