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1041 Words
A Day That Felt Like Home
The next day started slowly.
Shelly woke up a little later than usual. For a few seconds, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was calm, but somewhere deep inside, Veer’s words still stayed.
“It’s about Shaina.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath.
“Not today…” she whispered to herself.
Today, she didn’t want to think about him.
When she walked into the kitchen, she found Shaina already sitting at the table, swinging her legs happily.
“You’re awake early,” Shelly said with a small smile.
“I was waiting,” Shaina replied.
“For what?”
Shaina looked at her like it was obvious.
“For Mr. Spencer.”
Shelly couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“You like him a lot, don’t you?”
Shaina nodded quickly. “He listens to me. And he doesn’t say no when I draw on his hand.”
Shelly raised an eyebrow. “You did what?”
Shaina giggled. “Only a little!”
Shelly shook her head, but her smile didn’t fade.
Just as Shelly poured tea into two cups, there was a soft knock on the door.
Both of them looked at each other.
Shaina jumped off her chair. “I’ll open!”
Before Shelly could stop her, she had already run to the door.
When it opened—
There he was.
Spencer stood outside, wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans, holding a small paper bag and two coffee cups.
“Good morning,” he said with a smile.
“Mr. Spencer!” Shaina said happily and stepped aside to let him in.
Shelly walked toward the door, trying to stay calm.
“You’re early,” she said.
Spencer shrugged lightly. “I was passing by… thought I should check if someone was waiting for me.”
Shaina raised her hand immediately. “I was!”
Spencer laughed. “Good. Then I made the right decision.”
He walked into the kitchen and placed the bag on the table.
“I brought breakfast,” he said.
Shelly looked at the bag. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know,” he replied simply. “I wanted to.”
That answer again.
Simple.
Honest.
And hard to argue with.
The three of them sat together at the table.
It was a small thing—just breakfast.
But somehow, it didn’t feel small.
Shaina kept talking non-stop, telling Spencer about her drawings, her school, and even what she dreamed about last night.
Spencer listened to everything like it mattered.
Really listened.
Shelly watched quietly.
There was no force.
No pretending.
Everything between them felt… natural.
After breakfast, Shaina pulled Spencer toward the living room.
“Come, I want to show you something!”
Spencer looked at Shelly. “Am I allowed?”
Shelly smiled slightly. “You already are.”
They sat on the floor again, surrounded by crayons and papers.
This time, Spencer picked up a pencil.
“Okay,” he said seriously. “Today, I will draw.”
Shaina gasped. “Really?”
“Yes. But don’t laugh.”
“I won’t!” she promised… even though her eyes were already shining with mischief.
Spencer started drawing slowly.
After a few minutes, he turned the paper around.
It was… not good.
At all.
The drawing looked like a mix of random lines and shapes that didn’t make much sense.
Shaina stared at it… then burst out laughing.
Shelly couldn’t hold it in either.
“What is that supposed to be?” she asked, trying not to laugh too much.
Spencer looked offended. “Excuse me. That is clearly a tree.”
“A tree?” Shaina laughed harder. “It looks like a broken umbrella!”
Shelly covered her mouth, laughing freely now.
And in that moment—
She forgot everything else.
Spencer looked at her.
Really looked.
Her laughter.
The way her eyes softened.
The way she wasn’t holding back.
He had never seen her like this before.
And something in his chest tightened.
Not in a bad way.
In a way that felt… important.
Later, when Shaina went to her room to pick more colors, Shelly stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
Spencer followed after a few seconds.
“You’re smiling more today,” he said.
Shelly leaned against the counter. “Am I?”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “It suits you.”
She looked down for a moment.
“I guess… I forgot how to do that.”
Spencer stepped a little closer.
“Well,” he said softly, “you’re remembering now.”
Her eyes slowly lifted to meet his.
For a second—
Everything went quiet again.
No jokes.
No distractions.
Just them.
Standing close.
Too close to pretend it meant nothing.
Shelly’s heartbeat picked up slightly.
She didn’t move away.
But she didn’t step closer either.
She just… stayed.
Spencer didn’t rush it.
He never did.
“Shelly…” he said gently.
Before he could say more—
“Mommy!”
Shaina’s voice broke the moment.
They both stepped back a little.
The space returned.
But something had already changed.
By evening, Spencer was about to leave again.
This time, Shaina gave him something before he went.
Her drawing.
“The park one,” she said proudly.
Spencer took it carefully, like it was something important.
“This is going straight to my fridge,” he said. “Best spot.”
Shaina smiled happily.
At the door, Spencer turned to Shelly.
“Same time tomorrow?” he asked lightly.
Shelly hesitated for just a second.
Then she nodded.
“Yeah… you can come.”
He smiled.
And this time—
It felt like something was beginning.
Not rushed.
Not forcd.
Just…
Starting.
That night, as Shelly lay in bed, she didn’t pick up her phone.
She didn’t look at Veer’s number.
For the first time in days—
Her thoughts weren’t about the past.
They were about today.
About laughter.
About warmth.
About someone who stayed without being asked.
But deep inside—
She knew this peace wouldn’t last forever.
And when the storm came—
She would have to face it.
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