“You gave up coffee. You’re all about teas now.” Jax opened the slender cabinet beside the range hood, the only one she hadn’t opened. So many boxes of tea were piled up.

“Why would I give up coffee? Was I insane?”

Jax chortled. “I wondered the same thing, but it was for your health.”

“Real good that did me.”

“A new place opened up right on Broad Street. I can run and get you a cup if you’d like.”

“No, that’s okay. I’m sure you have to get ready for work or stop home or something.”

“It’s really no trouble.”

“I’ll have Amanda bring me some. I wanted to have a pot ready for when I get back from my run.” Gretchen thought about what she had just said. “If I cared enough about my health to give up coffee, why would I stop running?”

“For work. You gave up a lot for work. I’m going to shower really quick, and then I’ll get breakfast started for the little one.”

Gretchen waved her off. “I can do it. Breakfast is one of the few meals I can handle.”

Jax’s smile was odd but soft. “I remember.” She walked away but turned back just before she was out of earshot. “I’ll be out in ten minutes, just in case you do need help.” Maybe it was the delicacy of an early morning or the sleep fogging her mind, but Jax was much more like the Jax from her memories.

She went back to the kitchen and started to pull pans and bowls from the cabinets but quickly realized her preparation was for naught. The refrigerator was bare. All she had was one stick of butter, a couple yogurts nearing expiration, and something that used to be leafy. She hoped her pantry was more plentiful.

Oatmeal would have to do, and thankfully she could boil water without incident. She checked the time and knew she’d have to wake up Caleb soon, but the silence in the house was peaceful.

“Playing it safe with oatmeal, are you?” Jax was towel-drying her hair as she peeked at the ingredients.

Gretchen set out three bowls. “That was faster than ten minutes.”

“It was actually twelve. Do you have any nuts?”

“Um…” Gretchen opened her cabinets but again ran into dishes where food should be. “Why would we switch the cabinets around?” she said much more loudly than necessary. “I can’t find anything.”

“Spring-cleaning fever a year and a half ago. That’s when we redid Caleb’s room, too.” Jax stepped around Gretchen and opened the last upper cabinet. She pulled out a container of raisins and a small bag of almonds along with brown sugar and cinnamon. “Caleb prefers syrup in his oatmeal, but you haven’t allowed that for a while. I sneak him some brown sugar, though.”

“That’s fine,” Gretchen said, stepping back and allowing Jax to take over. She observed and ached, wishing she could understand the hows and whys. Jax prepared the simple breakfast with a sexy flair Gretchen watched keenly. Jax counted each raisin and placed it carefully, and the sprinkle of melting brown sugar looked beautiful. “I could watch you all day.” Her small confession felt silly leaving her lips. She stuttered to save herself from embarrassment. “N-not like that, I just mean you’re so artistic in everything you do. It’s soothing to watch.”