Knock, knock, knock

I look up from my morning paper in confusion. It's only 8:30, and the contractors said they wouldn't be back to finish up until 10. So who—?

"That must be Ron," Ann says. "I'll get it."

I scowl, suspicious. "Since when does Ronald knock?"

She doesn't answer, just gives me a knowing smile and a little pat on the shoulder as she walks out to the living room.

"Good morning, Ron," I hear her say as she opens the door.

"Mornin' Mrs. Dr. P," comes the familiar response, sounding far too chipper for my liking.

"Kimmie's still upstairs getting ready. Why don't you go into the kitchen and have some pancakes and I'll let her know you're here?"

"Thanks!"

Right on cue, Ronald comes sauntering into the kitchen a few seconds later. He heads straight to the counter, pulls a plate out of the cupboard and starts helping himself to my pancakes. "Good morning, Mr. Dr. P," he says as he takes a seat across from me.

Don't 'Good morning, Mr. Dr. P' me, you little traitor.

"Morning, Ronald."

"Beautiful weather we're having, huh?" he says, stuffing a pancake into his mouth whole.

I peer curiously at him over the top of my paper, then glance out the window. "Um, yes."

Whether he actually notices my reticence or just doesn't have the motivation to attempt any more small talk—knowing Ronald, my bet is on the latter—he turns blessedly quiet after that, focusing his attention on his breakfast and allowing me to concentrate on my paper. Or at least try to.

When I hear two pairs of footsteps coming down the stairs, I decide it's now or never.

"Ronald," I say, setting my paper down on the table.

He looks up at me, curious, and quickly swallows the bite he just took. "Yeah?"

I clear my throat. "I was just wondering if you remember that little talk we had before the Middleton Days Festival."

His eyes widen a bit in recognition, and I can't keep from smiling smugly.

But then he actually smiles back.

"Yes, sir," he says, and he doesn't sound terrified or intimidated or even slightly nervous, like I was expecting. In fact, he sounds almost... enthusiastic?

"Uh, well, good," I mutter, picking the paper back up and hiding my confusion behind it. "Just checking."

If he notices my surprise, he doesn't have time to say anything about it at least, because just then Ann and Kim arrive in the kitchen.

Ronald's instantly on his feet. Okay, now he looks nervous.

"Hey, Kim," he says, looking and sounding as if he hasn't greeted her the same way almost every day for the last 13 years.

And then Kim walks up and kisses him on the cheek as if she has greeted him that way almost every day for the last 13 years. "Hey, Ron."

Ronald's nervousness is replaced with a goofy grin, and I'm left wondering when the world turned upside down.

"Ready to go?" Kim asks, lacing her fingers through his and pulling him toward the door.

"Where are you two off to?" Ann asks. Something about the way she says "you two" makes my stomach twist.

They look at each other as if they hadn't even considered that rather important detail. Finally Kim shrugs. "Bueno Nacho and a movie?"

"Badical!" Ron responds as they head outside.

Once the front door closes, I try to turn my attention back to the paper, but it's no use. Instead I turn and watch out the kitchen window as they walk down the driveway, their hands still linked.

It's not the first time Kim's held Ronald's hand, but usually it's because she's dragging him along behind her—on the way to school or a mission or her latest volunteer project. The sight of them walking side by side like that is something entirely different.

After they've driven off on the scooter, I turn my gaze back to the table in front of me, and for the first time I notice—there are still one and half pancakes left sitting on Ronald's plate.

I look up at Ann, feeling inexplicable dismay. "Since when does Ronald not finish a free meal?"

The only answer I get is another knowing smile and another pat on the shoulder.

It's then that the reality of the situation finally manages to crash through all my hard-won denial. Ronald's gone and leapfrogged right over boy to... boyfriend.