Errors and Originals are the only things that are mine...enjoy.
Max took a deep breath and walked down the stairs prepared for breakfast with his grandparents. He was nervous; it was going to be his first day of school at his Mom's old elementary school. His granddaddy had told him he didn't have to start today if he wasn't ready, but he really didn't think he could stay at home anymore. His Mommy had always told him to be brave, be a big boy and sitting around crying wasn't being a 'big boy'. He missed his Mommy though. He missed his Mom too, all she did was sleep and cry, she never sang anymore and she never smiled. She was always sad, and that made him even sadder, because he couldn't fix it. Mommy would want him to make Mom happy like they both use to when she had a rough day at the theatre, but he didn't know how to help, and that, well that made him kind of angry.
Max took another deeps steadying breath and plastered a smile on his face as he stepped into the kitchen only be surprised by the sight of his Mom, fully dressed, sitting at the table drinking coffee.
"Mom…?" He asked timidly, afraid that he was dreaming. He hadn't seen his Mom in anything more than pajamas since they'd moved in with his granddads.
"Morning, honey." She smiled at him. It wasn't her full on Broadway smile, but he didn't care any smile was better than tears.
"Mom!" He pounced on her hugging her tightly and she hugged him just as fiercely back.
"I'm so sorry, baby..." She whispered into his ear.
"Come on you guys, no waterworks at the table." Max ducked out of his mom's arms and turned to see his granddad flipping pancakes onto a set of plates.
"Morning, granddad." Max said with a smile wiping his eyes.
"Morning Maxie, sit down, time for breakfast, yeah?" Leroy sat two plates in front of them and then a jug of orange juice.
"Are you excited about your first day?" Rachel asked drizzling syrup on her pancake.
Max shrugged and chewed a mouthful of pancakes. "It's just school..." He tried to downplay his nerves.
"Just school? Maxwell Grant, a scholarly foundation is paramount to a bright future."
Max rolled his eyes and chuckled. "I know Mom, I know."
The three of them continued to eat in silence. Hiram had already left for his daily morning jog. Max kept his eyes switching between his plate and his Mom's face. He couldn't help feeling that they were all in one of her plays right now, but he wasn't sure how to make the curtains fall or how the play ended. He was happy that his Mom was happy; he just wanted her to really be happy and not be pretending to be happy.
"Shake a leg kiddo; we don't want your first day to start off with you being tardy." Leroy interrupted Max's thoughts, placing the last of the dishes into the dishwater.
"Mom…?"
"I'll be waiting for you to get back home, so you can tell me all about your day." Rachel gave him a small smile.
"Okay…" He frowned slightly turning to head for his backpack before thinking better of it and turning to throw himself back against his Mom and holding her tightly.
"Hey, I love you, everything's going to get better…" He felt her tears in the side of his hair and struggled not to cry too.
"I love you too, Mom." He whispered letting go and grabbing his backpack with a slight wave.
"Have a great day, Maxwell, and remember you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so shine my little star."
Sorry this is a few hours late...busy day busy day...anyways...tell me what you think. Ink
