My eyes fluttered open at the sound of Lane crawling onto the plush comforter on Lindsey's bed. I scooted over a bit, making ample room for my son to crawl in next to me.
"Hey there, baby boy," I whispered, kissing his curls and pulling him over towards me. "Let's go back to sleep."
I knew it was wishful thinking to get him to lay back down but I was exhausted and it was worth a try.
"I'm hungry, Mama," he told me, wiggling around and getting up on his knees.
"Come here, buddy," I heard Lindsey yawn. "Let your mother sleep."
Lane climbed clumsily over me to Lindsey and I closed my eyes again, hoping for just a few more minutes.
"How 'bout a bowl of cereal," he asked, sitting up and running his hair through his curls before stretching. I watched them sitting side by side on the edge of the bed, almost identical as Lane mimicked Lindsey's mannerisms. He stood and Lane followed him happily out of the bedroom and towards the kitchen.
I stretched a bit, rolling over to get comfortable again and nodding off for what felt like just another fleeting moment. As much as I would have appreciated some additional sleep, I knew I needed to get up. We had a big day ahead of us and I needed to get back to the boat before it got too hectic around here. I threw the plush comforter off and slipped into the shirt Lindsey was wearing the night before before shuffling out to meet my boys for breakfast.
"Good morning," I greeted Lane, kissing the top of his head as he ate some Cheerios,
considerably more interested in the cartoons on tv than anything I was saying.
I rounded the corner and poured myself a cup of coffee as Lindsey snaked his hands around my waist, kissing my neck.
"And what about me," he teased. "Don't I get a hello?"
I turned around in his embrace, and gave him a lingering kiss on the lips, my fingers running though his curls. I met his smirk with a mischievous grin of my own. I was about to instigate further when I glanced over to the clock on Lindsey's stove.
"Shit!" I stood up and I screamed aloud. "Is that right?!"
He stood there, slightly caught off guard by my sudden change in demeanor, trying to determine an answer. "Yeah, I guess...."
"I have to go!" I sprang into action, running to grab my purse and keys as I pulled on my outfit from the day before and slipped into my shoes. "Your family will be here in an hour and I have to get all the way home and shower and change and get Lane ready and be back here-"
"Slow down," he appeared in the doorway, acting for once as the person who reigned me in a bit instead of the other way around. "You don't have to rush off. You look fine." He leaned casually in the doorway as I slid into my shoes.
I ignored him for the most part. I was a basket case. His entire family was coming over for the afternoon to meet Lane for the first time. I'd known them all for years but so many things had changed since the last time I saw them- I really felt like I was meeting them for the first time. I suppose, in many ways, I was. This new version of myself and this new dynamic with him, would really be put on display. I wanted to make a good impression for Lane's sake.
I shook my head, indicating I was still going to rush home to change, and he dropped the subject.
"Lane has clothes here," he announced as I brushed past him. "I'll give him a bath and have him ready. We'll see you in an hour or so," he offered.
