Grayson Manor
Early morning. He sat at the kitchen table looking out the window. He had coffee in hand and was watching the leaves drifting down from the trees outside. It was a beautiful autumn day in September. The sky was mostly clear with the exception of a few fluffy white clouds skidding across the sky. He couldn't find the sun right away but it was exceptionally bright, so he knew it must be there.
He heard the many footsteps on the floor above him and knew his family was welcoming the day as well. They would be running around getting ready for school.
The window was opened and a nice breeze washed in. It blew the pages of the newspaper that lay open on the table in front of him. He inhaled and held in the crisp morning air a moment before letting it out, in what sounded like a sigh.
"Daddy."
A small voice came from behind him. Robin turned to look into the large hazel eyes of his seven-year-old daughter.
He smiled. "Morning, sunshine."
"Are you still sad?" Her voice was quiet and careful.
He put his mug down and picked her up, setting her on his lap. "Why would I be sad?"
"Because mommy left." Her answer was quick and full of emotion.
He smiled kindly to her. How do you explain adult situations to a young child? Richard kissed her cheek. "Baby, don't worry about me, ok? I'm not sad anymore."
"You're not?" She sounded surprised.
"Nope. I have my beautiful children with me. But you are, aren't you? That's why you think I am."
She said nothing.
It has almost been a year since their mother left. True, he had been upset for a long time. He had missed her, like any husband would. But he came to realize he was mostly upset because she walked away from their children, not because she left him. And she never even tried to explain anything to them.
Yes, he would always love her. She gave birth to the three most important things in his life. But upon speculation, that was the only love he had left for her. And the only love he had had for her for a long time.
After their second child was born, they started to drift apart. As wrong as it might have been, they grasped at anything they could to help patch their marriage; they had a third. But that didn't change things, for better or worse. Things stayed the same. Same routine, day in, day out. They never let their kids see or hear anything that would have given them reason to worry. It was all discussed, or just there, in private.
She knew he would never leave his children, even if it meant them being miserable for the rest of their lives together. She wasn't strong enough for that. She left.
And he thought he was upset about it but in all reality, he was happy. In fact, the happiest he had been in years.
He knew the children would have a hard time for a while. Lilian was twelve at the time of her mothers' departure. Just coming into her teenage years when she really needed a female figure in her life; a mother's guidance. But after her first cry over it, she never once mentioned it again. For the most part, she seemed happy.
Quim was only two then, so he seemed unfazed. Too young to really remember what it was like with someone else in the family.
Siriatish took it the hardest. She had been six. She didn't understand.
"Does mommy still love us?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. There were tears glistening in her eyes from the morning sun.
He understood perfectly well why she would ask this. Their mother, in the eleven months she had been gone, had only called three times. And the last time was seven months ago. He always found himself making excuses for her lack of involvement in their lives. And he hated it. He hated lying to them. But he would keep it up so he wouldn't have to see more hurt in their eyes.
"Of course she loves you, Tish. Mommy's just been really busy."
That was by far the lamest excuse he had ever used. No matter how busy he got, he always made time for them.
A small smile formed on her lips.
There was giggling heard from the hallway. Richard turned in his chair to see his eldest daughter walk in carrying his son on her shoulders. One hand held his feet while the other held her school bag. He was smiling wildly with his hands clasped on her forehead.
She dropped the bag by a chair next to her father and strapped Quim into his booster seat. She walked to Richard and kissed him on the cheek.
"Good morning, Father." She said brightly.
He smiled. "Good morning, my dear."
"So, what'll it be this morning kiddo?" She ran her hand across Siriatish's head.
"Hmmm…" The little girl began. She dramatically put a figure to her chin and looked up. "Eggs, bacon and toast please."
"Coming right up. How about a drink? Chocolate milk perhaps?"
"Yes, please." Siriatish climbed out of her fathers lap and into her own chair.
Lilian started breakfast. "How about you, little man?" She called to Quim.
He was coloring with his crayons and a coloring book. He held the blue crayon high above his head. "PAMKAPES!" He shouted.
"Pancakes it is."
Richard looked at each one of his children in turn. Quim sat quite contempt, quietly coloring. His black hair fell just about his eyes and ears. His eyes were sea blue, at times sea green.
Next to Quim sat Siriatish. Her black hair fell to her mid back with bangs a bit above her brows. She sat with her sock covered feet on the edge of the table singing to the ceiling.
At the stove Lilian danced around to her own tune. Her black hair fell just above her shoulders with no bangs. Her eyes are bright blue.
"What would you like, dad?" Lilian called to him.
"Don't worry about me. I'm fine." He answered before taking another sip of his coffee.
Richard watched his children for a long time. He lost himself in their presence until a plate full of food was set in front of him with a glass of milk. Three pancakes with butter and syrup, scrambled eggs, two pieces of toast with jelly and four pieces of bacon.
"Thank you, Lily." That was their morning routine, normally. She would ask, he would say 'nothing' and she would fix him a plate of food.
She smiled in response. In front of Siriatish was one sunny-side-up egg, ½ a piece of toast with jam and two pieces of bacon. A small cup of chocolate milk also.
Quim had a small stack of mini pancakes with syrup and a sippy cup of chocolate milk.
Before Lily let him eat she removed his shirt to prevent it from getting covered in syrup.
She sat between Quim and Richard with a bowl full of fruit and the other half to Tish's toast.
Lilian and her father ate in silence. Quim and Siriatish spoke and laughed quietly back and forth.
When everyone had finished with their morning meal, Lilian removed them from the table and placed them and all the cooking utensils in the dishwasher and started it. She washed Siriatish's face and moved on to Quim. Once the sticky layer of syrup was removed she replaced his shirt and hurried them to the entry for their jackets.
In turn each child kissed and hugged their father before leaving. Lilian dropped Quim off three doors down at the sitters and then ran Siriatish to school before she herself went.
He watched them down the driveway from the front door. I'm letting Lily grow up too fast. He thought to himself. She had quickly stepped in to her mother's role. She dressed the kids, did most of the housework and cooked. Not once did he ask her to though, she did it on her own. In fact, he didn't even make his own coffee in the morning; Lilian had the timer set so it was ready when he entered the kitchen in the morning.
He had asked her why and she said she like to. 'It wouldn't do itself.' She had joked. He was sure it was just her way of dealing with the loss of her mother.
I would like to thank my one reviewer. I'm glad you like it so far. There is more good stuff to come. Any suggestions I am open to as well.
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