A Dance of Life

31

I feel amazing after sleeping with the pregnancy pillow for the first time. So, although I went to bed super tired, I have no problem waking up at seven-thirty on Sunday morning to make breakfast for everyone. I leave the room as quietly as I can so I don't wake Diana and creep down the stairs to the kitchen.

Alright. So fruits, pancakes, and eggs or sausages? I think as I rummage through the cupboards for available ingredients. I find turkey sausages in the fridge and opt for that instead of the eggs.

I put some music on and dance as I'm making the food. I'm excellent at ballet, not hip hop, but I bust out all the moves I've practiced in the privacy of my bedroom, happy to be alone.

"Are you dancing with Mama?" I giggle as I feel one of the babies move.

Kirk Franklin's I Smile comes on and I sing along with fervor, bopping my shoulders in time with the beat. I put the newly fried sausages on a plate and I spin to go drop it on the dining table when I'm met with the sight of a shirtless and sweaty Nathan. The plate slips out of my hand but I manage to catch it in time.

"What- how, um, how long have you been standing there?" I cough out as I glance around, suddenly finding everything but his body interesting.

"Not long," he says, slinging his shirt over his shoulder. "I go for a jug around the grounds every morning."

I place the plate on the counter and turn the music off, my mood deflated. "Okay, consider me warned," I tell him, mixing the pancake batter up again.

"Wow, that smells really good," he comments, coming close behind me. I feel the heat of his body and I freeze. But his body doesn't make contact with mine. Instead, his hand reaches out to grab one of the sausages. I slap his hand away before he can touch it. "Ow, that actually hurt."

"Yes, that was my intention. 'Don't touch things that don't belong to you'; I learned that yesterday when I put my hand on your shoulder," I say, smiling at him. He opens his mouth to say something, but I shush him and point to the kitchen door, "I also don't want your sweat in my food, so buh-bye."

Wow, good job, Annelise. You handled that well: no swooning, no blushing, nothing! But I hope you committed that image to memory because it might be a while before you see those s-

Ssshh to you too, I tell my mind, shaking my head. I'm trying to keep my mind on all things holy.

I turn my music back on but refrain from dancing just in case I get any more surprises.

--------------------------

How lazy are these people?

Thirty minutes have passed since I finished cooking and setting the table, but no one has come down yet. I'm starting to get cranky and decide to go wake them upstairs when I hear someone running down the stairs.

Finally, I think, rolling my eyes.

I stand to greet whoever it is with a wide smile but the smile falters when I see how fearful Diana looks.

"Are you okay?" I ask her, moving closer and putting my arms around her.

"Yeah, haha. Don't mind me," she tells me, shifting out of my grip, "I just woke up to you not being in the room and I jumped to conclusions but I'm fine. Really."

"D.R., I told you I'm not going anywhere. Sit down wherever. I'm going to go wake everyone up," I say, changing the subject so she wouldn't feel too embarrassed.

Five minutes later, everyone is at the table, but Pat and Lucas are still rubbing the sleep out of their eyes.

"I didn't realize nine am was early," I say to them, "I just wanted us all to have breakfast together. You can go back to sleep afterwards."