Sanderson sat at the small dining room table, there was no longer a door that cut off the kitchen from the dining room. He didn't ask and he didn't want to know. He sat at the table with Jordan, Alexandria and Robin and tried to go through what was left of his meal.
But he couldn't stop watching his children and Robin.
He couldn't stop watching Alexandria and Robin smile and giggle amongst themselves. As if they were twin sisters. Across the table Jordan sat pouring maple syrup on a spoon and eating it. Until Diana shouted, "Jordan!"
He put the spoon down and held up his plate.
Sanderson was shocked when Diana tossed two cooked waffles in, both hit his plate and landed on the table. Jordan then put them on his plate and shouted, "Thank you Aunty!"
Sanderson watched Diana then continue to empty the dishwasher. She yelled, "Rachael! Get Down Here And Eat!"
Upstairs feet hit the floor and ran across the floor.
Sanderson looked back to a letter from his parents, the last on the stack, but he couldn't open it. He laid it back down and watched his son drown his waffles with syrup. His daughter and Goddaughter whisper about some boy from school. He heard Rachael come down the stairs loudly, then someone knock on the front door.
Rachael was halfway down the steps when someone knocked on the front door. Dressed in her pj's still, her dark hair a mess. She rubbed her eyes and went to the door, she opened it and looked up at two men in uniform.
One she didn't know, the other she did.
Fear filled her. The older brown man had come and told her mom that her dad had been killed. She would remember his face till the day she died. She would remember his voice, even his tears. She would never forget her mother's scream on that night.
Quickly she slammed the door and ran towards the kitchen, Right into her mother as the man knocked again. Diana caught her daughter's arm and softly told her, "Be careful sweetie, go sit down at the table, I put in some waffles for you."
Rachael nodded but watched as her mom walked to the front door with fear.
She saw her mom stiffen as she did that night.
But no scream came, instead her mom let the two men in, she pointed to the living room and called for her uncle, "Sanderson."
A moment or so later he came out of the dining room.
He tousled Rachael's hair and gave her a gentle push towards the dining room. She watched as he walked into the room where her mother had sent the two men. Then she ran to tell her sister.
When Sanderson walked into the toy filled living room with Christmas tree, he froze, Diana headed out of the living room without a word to any of the men. Without offering any of them a drink or anything.
Sanderson crossed his arms, "Captain."
The black man nodded, "Lieutenant. I have a job opportunity for you."
Sanderson's eyebrows rose, the extent of his reaction. Which shocked the other man, a bald Hispanic man who looked at Sanderson as if he were some remarkable specimen.
"What would you say if I told you you have been selected for better paying job? More time at home with your children? Better housing. Less time away and no taxes on your pay?"
Sanderson was immediately suspicious, he chewed on his lower lip, "I'd want to know if I had to sell you my soul."
His Captain laughed, "Hardly."
"Are you talking about a third tour over in Iraq?" Sanderson then asked his Captain.
"Not exactly."
Sanderson watched his Captain warily, "Well I out of guesses. Tell me or get out, I am late for breakfast."
The officer looked from Sanderson to the Captain, stunned at Sanderson's blatant disregard for the higher-ranking officer.
While the Captain explained the job to Sanderson, Diana threw Rachael more waffles from the kitchen. The once loud room had fallen dead silent.
So silent her mommy radar kicked into action.
She peeked in the doorway and asked, "What are you four up to?"
The four heads looked up at her.
It was Jordan who quietly asked, "Why is that man here?"
Diana then knew why they were so quiet, she sighed, "I don't know." She rubbed her back and felt a familiar ache.
Robin quietly muttered under her breath, "Well we don't have anyone else that can die."
"They're not sending daddy back? Are they?" Alexandria then asked.
The four heads watched Diana, begging for answers. Answers Diana could not give them. She lied, "No. He just got home, he'll be home for a while. Don't worry."
They took comfort in that, even though Rachael knew it was a lie.
She ate her waffles without a word.
Diana ignored the cramps and hit the thermostat with her hand, kicking it down forty degrees, the house felt like a sauna.
"They aren't going to separate us?"
Diana looked into the room, unsure of who spoke as she pulled off her sweater, making sure her long sleeve shirt underneath covered her stomach. She shook her head, "I won't let them sweetie."
The four children watched as Diana then hit the thermostat again, as she was suddenly cold.
"Mom?" Robin asked.
Diana winced at a sharp pain in her back. Knowing what was happening, she told them, "Why don't you guys go grab some clothes and go visit Uncle Matt?"
Robin and Jordan shared a look, Alexandria asked, "You're having the baby? Aren't you?"
Diana shook her head, "Not yet. Just go grab some stuff to do ok? Go on." She waited until all four kids ran from the room and up the stairs, then she felt water run down her leg.