“So I see. I may even have to film you cooking and eating that sandwich as proof.”
“Oh, yeah? And who would you need to prove it to?”
Taking a bite, he smiles. “Myself. Over and over again, because I would wake up tomorrow thinking this was all a dream.”
Like me. I keep thinking, when I go to bed at night, that I will eventually wake up from this dream I’ve been in. However, up ’til right now, it’s felt more like a nightmare.
I laugh at his response but decide to remain silent as a comeback. I get to work on my sandwich and sit down opposite him to eat.
I take a bite, closing my eyes and allowing the flavors to burst inside my mouth. “Hey, little scamp, slow down. Your grilled cheese sandwich is ready.”
This… memory, or whatever it is, violently crashes down on me so hard that tears threaten to well in my eyes. I have no idea who that voice belongs to, but I know in my heart of hearts that he’s important to me.
But how?
“Kendra, are you okay?”
His soft voice pulls me from whatever this is I’m trapped in. I lock my eyes with Eli, his expression filled with concern.
“It’s fine,” I reply, knowing that I’m not. “I think I was meant to call Natalie today.”
A complete lie, but I had to come up with something.
“Don’t worry. All in hand. Everyone that needs to know you’re resting knows—Natalie included.”
I roll my eyes, wondering what kind of witty comeback she answered Eli with. “Did she mumble something about Ted Bundy?” I chuckle at my inside joke as Eli frowns back. “Long story,” I quip, answering his silent question.
Eli chuckles, shaking his head. “Natalie is quite something. She’s always on your tail, which I guess is a good thing. She remembers everything for you so you don’t have to.”
“I know, she seems to be great like that.” Also, rather strange in a comical way.
He frowns like this is the first time he’s heard me pay a compliment to her, but he doesn’t voice that opinion out loud. Instead, he surprises me totally by asking, “You really think I’m not turning into my father?”
This is obviously a big concern to Eli. I wish I knew more so that I could form my own opinion and voice it.
I place my hand over his, smiling. “No, Eli. I don’t.”
He exhales like the news is a huge relief. Why it’s so important, I would love to know.
“Speaking of, we have dinner tomorrow at my parents’ house, but I think under the circumstances we should cancel.”
There seems to be hope in Eli’s eyes that I will tell him he should. However, selfishly, now that he’s raised the point about his father twice tonight, I’m more eager than ever to meet him. Without that, I can’t form an opinion.
“If I feel better tomorrow, I would like to go.”
His eyes widen slightly at my answer. I imagine that wasn’t what he expected me to say.
“Okay, I will send a message to my mom to confirm first thing in the morning.”
I note he mentioned contacting his mom rather than his dad. Is she usually who he contacts, or is it a mixture of both his mom and dad? Again, so many questions I’m itching to have the answers to.
He hasn’t brought up his mom at all before, which makes me wonder what sort of a relationship he has with her.
I guess tomorrow, I will find out.