204 Rosewood Lane - Debbie Macomber [20]
They hadn’t resolved it in the days that followed, either.
After two weeks of this nonsense, one of them had to make a conciliatory gesture. Despite the fact that she’d been up past midnight reading over the committee report for the PTA planning meeting scheduled that evening, Rosie rose at the crack of dawn and fried bacon and eggs. She used to take the time to cook a real breakfast for her family. She hoped Zach would realize she was trying and that would appease him.
Rosie broke the eggs into the pan once she heard Allison stir. The kids were on different schedules now that Allison was in high school, which made coordinated meals more difficult. But if it was important to her husband that she spend half the morning in front of a stove, she’d do it in order to maintain the peace.
“I have eggs cooking for you,” she told her daughter when Allison stepped into the kitchen.
“I hate eggs,” Allison said, slamming her backpack onto the table.
“Since when?”
Her daughter eyed her as if Rosie were mentally lacking. “Since forever.”
“I forgot.” Vaguely Rosie could recall long-ago battles over breakfast. “What about some bacon then?”
“Yuck.” Her daughter opened the refrigerator and pulled out a soda.
Rosie was appalled. “You can’t have that!”
“Why not?” Allison looked at her with disdain. “I have a pop every morning. Why can’t I now?”
“Fine, if that’s what you want.” It wasn’t worth a fight. All the books Rosie had read about raising teenagers recommended carefully choosing your battles. Giving in on the soda seemed minor compared to not letting Allison pierce her nose.
Rosie turned off the burner and slid the fried eggs onto a couple of plates, together with the fast-cooling bacon. Walking down the hallway she knocked and opened Eddie’s bedroom door. His room was an environmental disaster area, and as much as possible, she averted her eyes. Her son was sprawled across his bed, comforter on the floor.
“Are you interested in breakfast?” she asked.
Eddie lifted his head and blinked at her. “Mom?”
“Do you want breakfast?” she repeated.
He sat up, suddenly wide-awake. “Yeah,” he said with enthusiasm.
This was more like it.
“The chocolate ones are my favorite.”
“Chocolate what?”
“Pop-Tarts.”
“I fried you bacon and eggs.”
Eddie wrinkled his nose as if she’d suggested he dine on slugs. “No, thanks.” He flopped back on his pillow and reached for the comforter on the floor.
All right, so much for that. Venturing toward the master bedroom, she found Zach just as he was coming out of the walk-in closet, dressed in his suit and tie.
“I cooked breakfast,” she said, a bit stiffly.
He nodded as though he approved.
“Are you ready to eat?”
“I can’t now,” he said, looking down at his watch. “I’ve got an early-morning appointment.”
That was just great, dammit! No one appreciated her efforts or the fact that she was functioning on less than five hours’ sleep. Whirling around, Rosie returned to the kitchen, dumped the congealed bacon and egg in the garbage and forcefully opened the dishwasher. She shoved in the plates.
Zach entered the kitchen. “I’m leaving now.”
“Have a good day,” she muttered under her breath.
“You, too.”
Her husband stopped in front of the door leading to the garage. “Would you like to meet for lunch this afternoon?”
So Zach did realize what she was doing. Now he was making an overture, too. “I think that’s a lovely idea.” She offered him a grateful smile and he smiled back.
“Eleven-thirty?”
Rosie nodded and he walked over to her and kissed her cheek.
“Dad,” Allison called, racing into the kitchen. “Can I get a ride with you?”
“Only if you hurry.”
“I’ll just be a minute.”
“Meet you at the car.”
Allison dashed toward her bedroom and returned two seconds later with her sweater, grabbing her backpack from the table as she went.
“Do you have your lunch money?” Rosie asked.
“Duh? Of course I do.” Allison kissed