Chapter 19
Jodi was happy. Her mom had called from the Gungellan pub last night. She and Terry were there. They had driven a long way and were exhausted by the time they got there, so they got a room for the night at the pub. They would be at Drovers this morning.
Jodi really missed her mom. Meg was happy with her life with Terry out in Broome, but she and Jodi were so close growing up it still felt weird to Jodi that she wasn't hovering over her like she used to.
I guess it's my job to be the hoverer now, since now I'm the mum, Jodi thought.
Tess was supposed to be on breakfast duty, which meant Jodi should get a few extra minutes of sleep. She looked over at Matt who was sleeping soundly next to her. His breathing was nice and consistent. Listening to Matt breath gave her comfort. She cuddled into the spot right by him and let her sleeping husband spoon her. She would enjoy it while it lasted because she knew it was only a matter of time before she had to get up and begin her day.
Four whole minutes! I got to spoon with Matt for four minutes before the girls were up and running, thought Jodi, as she heard the girls running downstairs.
She sighed and started getting herself up, but then she stopped and listened.
Nothing.
She had heard the girls go downstairs. Usually she would hear a bump or a crash or someone crying shortly after that. But this time? Nothing.
What was going on? Jodi wondered.
Jodi quietly opened the door and tiptoed down the stairs. She stood against the wall outside the kitchen and listened.
"So first, you have to get a bowl out. I usually get one from here because they are too high up in the cupboard." Jodi heard the dishwasher open and the slight rattling of dishes.
"Then you have to get the cereal box down from above the refrigerator. I use a chair." Jodi heard the scraping of a chair being pushed across the floor.
"Now, you have to pour some of the cereal from the box into the bowl. But be careful. It can come out fast. Mommy will be mad if you make a mess." Jodi heard the rustling of the plastic bag and cereal being poured into two bowls.
"You need milk, but the chair is blocking the fridge." Jodi heard the sound of the chair scraping again. Then, the sound of the fridge opening and closing. "When the jug is full, it's heavy, so you better let me pour it for you, okay?"
"Okay Meggie."
"Now you just need a spoon." Jodi heard the sound of the drawer opening and closing.
She poked her head around the corner looking into the kitchen and she saw her two girls, sitting there at the kitchen table in their pajamas, eating matching bowls of cereal together. It was such a great sight.
Jodi smiled to herself. She felt almost guilty for eavesdropping on such a beautiful sister moment, but she thought it was so great to see her girls together, solving problems and helping each other. She never got moments like those growing up and she had worked hard to get those moments with Tess as an adult.
She snuck back up the stairs to her bedroom. Matt was just waking up as she walked back in.
"Hey baby. Where were you?" Matt noticed Jodi's eyes watering. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, everything is wonderful. Also, can we start keeping the cereal and some bowls on a lower counter?"
Jodi told Matt how Meggie was teaching Katie to make her own bowl of cereal.
"If putting the cereal on a lower shelf means we get an extra fifteen minutes of sleep or even better, cuddling with my beautiful wife in the mornings, count me in!" Matt wrapped his arms around Jodi as she climbed back into the bed.