CHAPTER 9:A PROMISE BEFORE BREAKFAST
965 Words
The email remained open on Isabella's phone long after the screen should have gone dark.
I would be honored to attend.
She read her own reply one last time before pressing Send.
The message disappeared.
There.
It was done.
For reasons she couldn't explain, she set the phone face down on the coffee table instead of thinking about it any longer.
Sophie glanced at her.
"So?"
"It's confirmed."
"I knew you'd go."
"You sound very pleased with yourself."
"I usually am."
Isabella smiled, shaking her head.
"You really are impossible."
"I've been told."
A quiet yawn interrupted them.
Both women looked toward the hallway.
Ethan's bedroom door was half open, and the soft rise and fall of his breathing could just be heard from inside. He had already been tucked into bed after asking his question, and now he was asleep again, one arm wrapped around Mr. Buttons while Captain Green sat on the bedside table where he had been carefully placed.
Sophie lowered her voice.
"I should head home."
"You don't have to rush."
"I have court at eight tomorrow."
She bent to kiss Ethan gently on the forehead where he lay beneath the blankets.
"Goodnight, little man."
He mumbled something unintelligible without waking.
"I'll pretend you said goodbye."
Isabella walked Sophie to the front door.
Before leaving, Sophie rested one hand lightly on Isabella's arm.
"Don't overthink the gala."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I've already stopped thinking about it."
"That's exactly what someone who's still thinking about it would say."
Isabella laughed softly.
"Drive safely."
"I always do."
The apartment grew noticeably quieter after the door closed.
For a few moments, Isabella simply stood there, listening.
The distant hum of traffic.
The ticking clock in the hallway.
The soft soundtrack still playing from the forgotten movie.
Home.
She walked back toward Ethan's room and paused in the doorway.
He was curled on his side beneath the blanket, his hair a little messy from sleep, his face peaceful in the dim light. The sight of him always softened something inside her, even on the busiest days.
She stepped inside and gently tucked the blanket higher around his shoulders.
His eyelids fluttered.
"Mummy..."
"I'm here."
"I'm not asleep."
"I can tell."
"...I'm pretending."
"You're doing a very convincing job."
He smiled without opening his eyes.
She brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead.
"Sleep, sweetheart."
"Okay."
Within seconds, his breathing became slow and even again.
Isabella remained beside the bed for another minute before quietly switching off the lamp and leaving the room.
The next morning began much earlier than either of them wanted.
Sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows as Isabella flipped pancakes while checking emails on the tablet propped against the coffee machine.
"Mummy!"
She didn't need to turn around.
"I can hear you brushing your teeth."
"I finished."
"Did you?"
"...Mostly."
She smiled.
"Mostly isn't finished."
Tiny footsteps hurried away again.
A few moments later came the unmistakable sound of running water.
"Now I'm finished!"
"Good."
Ethan appeared wearing his school uniform, though his tie sat crooked beneath his collar.
He climbed onto his usual stool.
"I did it myself."
"I can see."
She walked over and straightened the tie.
"There."
"Perfect."
"I almost got it."
"You were very close."
He looked proudly at his reflection in the microwave.
"I look handsome."
"You certainly do."
He grinned, revealing the gap where his front tooth had been.
"So do pancakes."
"I'm not sure pancakes can be handsome."
"They're beautiful then."
"I'll accept that."
She placed two pancakes on his plate.
His eyes widened.
"Can I have syrup?"
"A little."
"What counts as a little?"
She reached for the bottle.
"This."
"Aww..."
"It builds character."
"I already have character."
She laughed.
"Who told you that?"
"You."
"I don't remember."
"You said I'm funny."
"You are."
"Funny people have character."
"I suppose that's true."
While he happily drowned exactly half of one pancake in syrup, Isabella reached for the folded notice Mrs. Palmer had given her earlier that week.
Bright Horizons Academy
Family Creativity Afternoon
Friday – 3:30 p.m.
Parents and guardians are invited to join students for collaborative art projects, games and refreshments.
Ethan noticed the paper immediately.
"That's tomorrow."
"It is."
"You promised."
"I remember."
"No meetings?"
"No meetings."
"No phone calls?"
She hesitated just long enough for him to notice.
"...Only if it's an emergency."
He narrowed his little eyes.
"What if someone wants to talk about clothes?"
She couldn't help smiling.
"That isn't an emergency."
"What if it's fancy clothes?"
"Still not."
"What if they're sparkly?"
She laughed.
"Especially not."
He pointed his fork at her.
"So you'll stay with me?"
"I'll stay with you."
He nodded once.
"Good."
That seemed to settle every concern he had.
After breakfast, Isabella helped him into his backpack.
He insisted on carrying it himself.
Even though it looked almost as big as he was.
As they reached the apartment door, Ethan suddenly stopped.
"Oh!"
"What is it?"
He hurried back to the dining table, grabbed a folded drawing and tucked it carefully inside his school bag.
"What did you forget?"
"It's a secret."
"A secret?"
"Mhm."
"Can you tell me?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"'Cause then it won't be a secret anymore."
He looked extremely pleased with this logic.
Isabella surrendered with a smile.
"I suppose you're right."
Hand in hand, they stepped into the hallway.
The elevator arrived almost immediately.
As the doors slid open, Ethan squeezed her hand.
"Mummy?"
"Yes?"
"I'm happy."
She looked down at him.
"What made you happy?"
He shrugged in that wonderfully uncomplicated way children did.
"I just am."
The elevator doors closed.
Neither of them knew that tomorrow's school event would become the first small step toward a future neither of them could possibly imagine.
- Writer
