What He Left Behind [edition 1]

What He Left Behind - Ten

Chapter Ten

He Never Did Anything Like This

          "Goodmorning, Mommy!" I heard Suri screech as she ran through the living room. An unknown smell hit my nose and I scrunched it up in disgust. Peeking out on eye, I didn't see anything. Then, suddenly, I felt a wet tongue glide across my face and I sat up immediately. 

          "Chester!" I cheered and hugged the small dog in my arms. It's been awhile since he was over here and whenever he was, he seemed to light up the space. He wiggled around in my arms for awhile before finally escaping and tackling Suri to the ground. Laughing in utter joy, she rolled around with the pup restrained in her arms. 

          Standing, I stretched and listened to all my bones pop and crack before making my way to the kitchen. There, I saw Max standing at the stove and making pancakes. He's never done this for me before so it was a nice surprise. 

          Sneaking up behind him, I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. I could feel the chuckle rumble through his body and he grabbed my hand before turning around and kissing my forehead. 

          "Goodmorning, Sleeping Beauty..." He mumbled and I laughed, getting out three glasses. I poured the milk in them and made sure to add chocolate to Suri's glass. Setting them on the table, I saw everything was already there except for the glasses. 

          "Max..." I said slowly and turned around to face him with a small smile on my face. "This is... Thank you..." 

          "For...?" He asked as he pilled pancakes on the plates. 

          "It's just nice to be relieved of my mommy duties once in awhile..." I said as I caught Suri in my arms and placed her in the chair. Max went over and shut Chester out on the deck - who happily took in the fresh air and dropped to the ground as he panted. 

          "You had a rough night last night, Kat. I didn't think you needed to stress out so much..." He whispered to me and I nodded as a sign of thanks. Suri buttered and smoothered her pancakes in syrup before taking a bite of them. 

          "Oh, your boss called..." He said slowly as I took a bite of my pancakes. I gave him a curious look and he sighed, looking back down at his plate. "He said he was driving passed here last night and saw all the police cars and an ambulance and then he saw what a mess you were and he just... He was so worried about you, Kat." 

          "Ahh..." I said as I took a drink of my milk. 

          "I explained the situation to him - saving you the time, because I know how your relationship with Leone is and he said to take as much time off as you wanted..." Sighing, I nodded, again. "Did you not want him to know or...?" 

          "No, Max..." I said slowly. "It's not that. It's just... Okay, thank you a lot - really - for telling him. I appreciate that. It's just how Leone is. He's constantly worrying about me and Suri and I... I really need to just go back to the way everything was. You know?" 

          "Oh," He said and nodded. "I thought I did something wrong..." 

          "Max, what have you ever done something wrong when you were taking care of this family?" He laughed with me and we finished our dinner in silence. Once we were finished cleaning up, Max turned to me. 

          "I was surprised Suri didn't ask..." He mumbled. 

          "I wasn't, honestly." I said and put the last glass in the cupboard. "I taught her to keep her nose in her own business and she always does. She's such a sweetheart, Max. The only reason she would ask is if we were hiding it from her... I don't like doing that. She's not a baby anymore, and she knows what stays at home and what doesn't have to."