The One He's Not

Bread n' Butter & Bro Talk

Bread n’ Butter & Bro Talk

KAT

Lo and behold, I didn’t sleep a wink for the rest of the night ad it was all thanks to Noel. His last comment about his father left me too unsettled and restless to head back into my slumber, so I was left staring at the ceiling until dawn.

He had said that his mother was now a widow because of Dexter’s dad, King Elliot and in my eyes that could only mean one thing.

His dad must have been murdered, just like the others.

The very thought of someone being murdered right under my nose sent a wave of nausea through my body. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t find any sign or clue that these killing were happening and if it weren’t for me seeing Noel in the garden the day he kidnapped me, I probably would have stayed oblivious.

I sat up from the bed I was in and rubbed my eyes. The morning sun was seeping through the windows, bringing a little light into the room, but a little breeze still brushed in, since the screen around the window frame had a collection of giant holes in it.

I reached for the crutches beside me and struggled to get out of bed. My ankle began to throb, but I pushed the pain aside and made my way to the exit door of my room.

Maybe Dean and Aubrey have a little food, I wondered to myself after my stomach had grumbled impatiently.

As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted with a bright smile from Aubrey. She was wearing a worn-looking blue dress that flowed to the floor and it had just enough room to hug her huge belly.

Aubrey was setting the table with a few plates and clay pots and then turned to face me. “Look who’s up and at em’,” She cheered.

I made the observation that she most definitely was a morning person. I feared what I looked like, since I haven’t bathed or changed clothes in three days, but Aubrey really did seem like she was glowing. Maybe being pregnant does that to you?

I smiled at her kindly and shuffled to the table to take a seat. I leaned my crutches against the kitchen chair next to me and eyed the plate in front of me with beady eyes. The more I thought about food, the more my stomach rumbled, making my cheeks flush red in embarrassment.

Aubrey giggled. “I knew you’d be hungry, so I made a tone of extra food.” With the swift motion of her hand, Aubrey placed a large clay plate in front of me. It appeared to have a dozen slices of white bread and on the side, there was little cups of a red and white substance, which I guessed to be homemade butter and jam.

I stared at the plate and couldn’t find the right words to say. They had this every day for breakfast and what did I have? Eggs Benedict with assorted cheeses and deli meats which were imported from other exotic regions far, far away from Payne’s Landing. Bread was for side dishes and finger sandwiches at which we would have royal picnics. I could say that I’ve never had anything like this for breakfast, but what can I say, new world, new opportunities, right?

“Yum,” I forced a smile and licked my lips slightly while gazing down at the stale bread. The last thing I wanted was to offend anyone. If anything, I felt horrible because I was expecting so much from a place that had so little.

To my surprise, Aubrey snorted. “No need to pretend that this is a feast, sweetheart. I know this isn’t what you’re used to and I understand that.”

My cheeks flushed red, matching the shade of my hair. I mouthed Aubrey a ‘thank-you’, since I temporarily couldn’t find my voice, and reached hesitantly for a piece of bread along with the tiny bowl of butter.