“People other than cops eat donuts, you know,” we heard Dad return. “I’m not a cop and I eat donuts.”
“Buttermilk pancakes are Roxie’s favorite breakfast. I want to make Roxie’s favorite breakfast,” Mom said.
“I’l get what I get,” Dad responded, obviously not in the mood to discuss it anymore.
“You do that. I’l go get the dog. He’l probably want out and Hank and Roxie need to sleep in. They had a tough night.”
Both Hank and my bodies got tense.
“Don’t go near that damn room, Trish,” Dad warned.
“I’m just getting the dog. I won’t peek,” Mom returned Hank lifted his forehead from mine.
“Please tel me your mother’s not comin’ in here,” Hank said to me.
“Trish! Get back here!”
“Herb, relax.”
Mom sounded closer. A lot closer.
My mother was coming in.
“We can hear you!” I shouted, in hopes of waylaying her.
Silence.
Hank and I were both na**d and the sheet was around our waists. He pul ed the sheet up to my chest just as Mom opened the door.
Good God.
Hank’s head twisted to look over his shoulder, other than that, he didn’t move, likely trying to shield me further with his body. I put my hands to his biceps, lifted up and peered over his shoulder.
Mom was standing in the doorway in her robe, her hand over her eyes.
“Mornin’ kids. Don’t mind me. Come here Shamus, come on boy,” then she made kissy noises, the whole time she kept her hand over her eyes.
Shamus lurched up, jumped off the bed and jogged out of the room, tail wagging.
As he wagged by Mom, she said, “Go back to sleep. I’m making pancakes but Herb’s got to find buttermilk so it’l take awhile. You have time for a snooze.”
The whole time she talked, she kept her hand over eyes.
“Yeah, we heard,” I told her. “Mom?”
“Yes, sweetie?” she lifted her head a bit, hand stil on her eyes.
“Go away.”
“Right, right. Going,” then she closed the door.
We heard movements, keys jingling, doors slamming, the whole time I lay on my back and watched Hank. His eyes were looking in the vicinity of my col arbone, his head slightly cocked, listening while a smile played about his mouth
When the noise died down, I said to him, “I’m sorry.” He dipped his head, rubbed his nose against mine and my bel y melted.
“My parents are a little nutty,” I went on.
He looked me in the eye. “Sunshine, first off, Tex is your uncle. And, no offense, I mean it as a compliment, but you’re anything but normal. It isn’t like I wasn’t prepared.”