Chapter 57: Family Breakfast

Mel is snuggled up in bed on Saturday morning, reading Lucas’s favorite book, when her phone rings on the bedside table. Half thinking it is Markus calling to cancel, she can’t help but notice the feeling of disappointment. Instead, she is relieved to see it’s her mother. “Hey Lucas, it’s Grandma.” With that Lucas starts babbling, already in deep conversation with his grandmother as Mel answers the phone with a chuckle.

“Well, that is a beautiful sound so early in the morning,” her mother says.

“Hi mom, I think someone needs to talk to you first,” Mel laughs as Lucas grabs for the phone. Mel struggles to put it on speakerphone. Mel listens to the very one-sided conversation and when Lucas starts pausing, she knows he is losing interest, she hands him his book and takes the phone back.

“Wow, the little guy sure had a lot to tell me this morning!” Her mother then asks, “how about you? How did it go with Markus?”

Mel thinks about things, “actually really well. I couldn’t have asked for more understanding. He was a little upset I waited this long after Lou’s death to tell him about Lucas,” she glances at him, “reading” the book himself and she has to smile.

“Did you tell him why?” her mother asks.

“We didn’t get too far into it. Actually, Lucas woke up, and by the time he went back down, I was just so exhausted from the entire ordeal. I told him I would fill him in on more details later,” Mel replies.

“And he was okay with that? Did he see Lucas?”

“Mom, he was fine. Amazing, actually. He held Lucas.” Mel tells her mother about Lucas referring to him as Dada and how Markus had reacted. How he had watched his son in awe for the longest time before leaving. That he wanted to spend the day with them. Then she glances at the time on her phone.

“Crap Mom, I gotta go. Markus will be here any minute,” Of course Lucas picks that time to repeat after her, “crap”. “Okay, love you Mom. Bye.” Mel hits end before her mother can say anything else. “Crap, ” Lucas says again with a big grin on his face. How do they know?

“Okay, bud, time to get you presentable. It’s too late for me but we will at least get you cleaned up.”

Fifteen minutes later, there is a knock on her door. Perfect timing. She has got Lucas changed and dressed for the day. Her yoga pants and tee will have to do. Thank God for hair that only needs a finger comb through. Throwing Lucas on her hip, she heads to the door. Her breath catches when she looks at the sight before her.

Markus in sandals, a pair of khaki shorts, a black tee-shirt stretched tight across his chest. The only thing slightly out of place is his hair, but she knows that is part of the image and charm as well. “You are certainly punctual,” is all she can get out. He smiles at her and Lucas, and with those dimples, she is rendered speechless.

“Good Morning,” he responds to her. Then, looking at Lucas, he pauses then in a thicker voice says, “hey there little guy.” Lucas bounces in her arms, then wiggles to get down.

Mel holds the door open farther and gestures for him to come in. “Come on in before the little monkey escapes. I’m running a little behind as my mother called,” Mel explains.

“Well, this should save you a little time.” He sets the bag and beverage tray he is carrying on the small table. He opens up containers, and she is speechless. “I hope you still like your coffee the same. I didn’t know how hungry you would be so I bought two of your favorites; everything bagel with butter and a blueberry muffin.”

“You remembered?” Mel asks, unbelieving of what she is seeing. They only knew each other for six weeks and that was two years ago!

“Of course,” Markus responds, then adds, “I remember everything about you.”

Wow, Mel doesn’t know what to do with that information but is sure warms her heart and other places. She scoops down to pick up Lucas and puts him in his highchair. She is buckling him in when Markus clears his throat.

“Not sure what Lucas would like, but I know he likes milk.” He pulls a small container of milk out of the bag. Blushing, a little, Markus continues, “I got cheerios and applesauce, but it’s okay if he doesn’t like it. I was kind of relying on google.” He laughs at the end.

Mel is speechless. How could she have forgotten what a kind and big heart this man had? That he would think of her son, their son, enough that he would google what to buy him, instead of just assuming she would have something for Lucas.

“Is it wrong? Is he allergic to something?” Markus looks uneasy now, and it gets Mel out of her thoughts.

“No, Markus. You did good.” She reaches out and places her hand on his arm. “wonderful in fact.” On impulse, she reaches over and gives him a peck on the cheek. Realizing what she has done, she immediately busies herself getting Lucas set up with his breakfast.

Markus pulls a chair out from under the small table and sits down. He lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. Jesus, he can’t ever remember being this nervous. It was only breakfast, for Christ’s sake, but he wanted so badly to make a good impression on her and Lucas. He watches as she reaches up into the top cupboard, tee raising up to show off a strip of her lower back and those pants, got they are like a second skin. Markus has to shift in his seat and get his mind off that and fast. He looks to Lucas who is chugging back on his sippy cup, eyes on Markus. He can’t help but smile at the little guy.

At that Lucas breaks out into an enormous smile, plucking the cup from his mouth and holding it out to Markus, “milk,” he says.

“Yes, that’s milk,” Markus says, “that’s your milk.”

“No, Dada’s milk.” Lucas holds the cup out further.

“He wants you to pretend you’re drinking it,” Mel explains. “He must really like you if he will share his milk,” she chuckles.

Touched and with a slight lump in his throat, Markus takes the cup from Lucas and pretends to take a big drink, then passes it back to him. Lucas gives him a grin, takes back his cup and starts on his cheerios as if this sharing of milk with him is an everyday occurrence. Breakfast is finished in relative peace, except for the occasional cheerio being thrown. When they are cluing up, Markus clears this throat.

“Do you have any plans for the day?” he asks Mel.

“Nothing pressing. I was going to make some calls to look at some bigger apartments but I guess that could wait.” As she says this, she glances around her current apartment and sighs, showing that it really can’t wait.

“How about we go for a drive, maybe out to the beach? It’s such a beautiful day, it would be a shame to pass it up.” He looks over and sees her chewing on her bottom lip in contemplation. “You’ll be stuck on campus all day in two weeks, now's your last chance to enjoy your freedom. Come on, I may even be able to help you out with your living arrangements but only if you go to the beach with me first.”

“I need to shower first and get something more suitable on.” She glances at Lucas, who is still picking up a cheerio at a time. Markus follows her line of sight.

“We’ll be okay, won’t we, little guy?” he directs the last comment to Lucas, who answers as if he understood the question.

Biting her lip again, she gives in. “Okay, but I’ll leave the door unlocked in case you need me.” With that she is gone to the bathroom. Markus hears the shower turn on and thinks of the unlocked door. Oh, I need her, he thinks, but not in the way she meant it.

“Dada,” Lucas says as he slams his cup on the tray of his high chair. Markus laughs at the thought that Lucas knew what he was thinking and didn’t appreciate those thoughts about his mother.