Valentine's Day. Wally woke up early that morning with memories. His daughter, Lindsey, was in the guest room across the hall from his bedroom. During the night, Wally had not slept a wink since Valentine's Day was coming, so all he did was eat candy quietly so nobody would hear him. Valentine's Day was also the wedding anniversary of our parents, Dad and Mom and every year when Valentine's Day came around the corner, Wally got depressed when our parents were not around to celebrate their anniversary.
Wally was still under the covers when Olivia and I woke up after six that morning. Wally sure didn't feel like going to work today. He heard a knock at his door, figuring it was me. Wally heard Olivia calling me from the kitchen so I didn't get to tell Wally it was time to get dressed.
"Yes, honey?" I asked after we told each other happy Valentine's Day.
"Wally's prescriptions came in yesterday. I couldn't get them since the car was in service. Would you pick them up for me?" Olivia asked.
"All right, sweetheart. I'll pick them up today if I have time. I'm going to wake up Wally so I can take him to work," I said.
"Good idea. Would you mind waking Lindsey up too? We're having eggs and bacon this morning."
"Okay."
Beaver left and headed upstairs again. He decided to wake Lindsey up first since her room was the closest. He knocked on the door and heard his niece's voice answer, "Come in."
I poked my head in and said, "Aunt Olivia would like you to join us for breakfast."
"Okay," Lindsey said in a sleepy voice.
I shut the door again and knocked on my brother's door. There was no answer from Wally, so I let myself in. I found my brother still under the covers.
"Aren't you going to come down for breakfast and get ready for work?" I asked.
"No. I'm not working today. You know what today is," Wally said, depressed.
I knew what my brother meant.
"You're thinking about Mom and Dad's anniversary, aren't you?" I asked him, sitting on the closest chair near Wally's bed and heard a Skittles wrapper crunch.
"What was that? Have you been eating candy again?" I asked, seeing the Skittles wrapper I just sat on.
"All right, Wally. You can stay home today. I know how you feel about Mom and Dad since they aren't around anymore to celebrate their anniversary. I'll have Olivia call your office and let them know you won't be there today," I said and left my brother's room.
Once downstairs again, I joined Olivia and Lindsey at the kitchen table.
"Where's Wally?" Olivia asked.
"He's not coming. He won't be going to work today either. Would you do me a favor and call Wally's office to let them know he won't be there?"
"All right," she said.
"What do you mean Dad's not going to work today?" Lindsey asked.
"This is something we're going to talk about, Lindsey, so you'll see why you ran out on us long ago," I told her.
I ate quickly and grabbed my things and kissed the two women.
"Happy Valentine's Day," I said to the two and was out the door.