Page 46 of More Bite than Bark

Kevin moved up behind her, close enough she felt his body brush against her back.His arms came around her waist, but he didn’t hold her tight enough to keep her from what she was doing.He bent and kissed the top of her head.Elizabeth knew this was his way of showing her mother, without saying anything, that he had her back.

“Grandchild?”Mama said after a moment, shock clear on her face.“Are you pregnant?”

“I am.”Elizabeth looked at Mama for a moment.“Would you like a cup of coffee?I’ve also got tea and water if you’d prefer.”

“Coffee would be good.”

Kevin stepped away from behind her, she turned her head to see he was headed for the coffee pot.

“Have a seat, Mama.”Elizabeth motioned to the other side of the bar and the stools where she and Kevin usually sat for breakfast.There were three, so plenty of room for all of them.“Want something to eat?”

Mama looked around the kitchen for a moment, until Kevin set a mug of coffee in front of her.

“I would take a couple of eggs if you don’t mind,” Mama said.“Do you have apple butter for the biscuits?”

“Of course.”The oven beeped as it hit temperature.Elizabeth turned and grabbed the pan and slid it into the oven.She set the timer, so she didn’t forget them then pulled the egg carton closer.“Over easy, medium, sunny side up?What’s your go to these days?”

“Over medium, please.”

“Coming right up.”Elizabeth cracked two eggs into the skillet and pulled her egg spatula from the drawer.

She ignored Mama for a moment as she watched the eggs, sipped at her coffee, and tilted her head back as Kevin moved close and bent to give her a kiss.

“Can I ask questions or will that get me cut out of your lives too?”

“You’re welcome to ask questions and be part of our family.What you’re not welcome to do is talk down to Elle, belittle her choices, or treat her like she’s something less in any way,” Kevin said, his arms wrapped around her middle, as if he would move her out of the line of fire if Mama started with her usual crap.

Mama nodded slowly, not saying anything at first.Elizabeth flipped the bacon again then checked the eggs and found they weren’t quite ready to flip yet.Kevin moved up behind her, close enough she knew he was trying to protect her.

“Can I ask if you know who the father is?”

She felt Kevin tense behind her.She dropped one hand behind her to touch his leg and let him know she had this.Kevin stepped back, went to the cabinet, and pulled out three plates, setting them beside the stove while Elizabeth spoke.

“You can.And I do.Since I know what your next question will be, there is absolutely no chance it can be Michael’s.I told you that already.”She pulled out the bacon that had finished cooking, and added a few more slices.

Mama narrowed her eyes at Elizabeth, but didn’t say anything more.She picked up the mug and sipped her coffee.Elizabeth finished with Mama’s eggs, plated them, and slid them across the bar.Kevin retrieved forks from the drawer, handed one to Mama and set the others on the stack of plates he’d gotten out a couple of minutes before.Elizabeth slid the plate of bacon her way, silently offering her some.

“Biscuits still have a few minutes,” Elizabeth said as she cracked eggs into the skillet for Kevin.She’d already figured out how and how many he wanted so she didn’t have to ask.

“These are really good,” Mama said, her eggs half gone.

The alarm for the biscuits went off and before Elizabeth had a chance to turn around, Kevin was in front of the built in oven, opening the door.

“They look done to me,” he said, stepping out of the way.“What do you think?”

Elizabeth reached in and used her thumbnail to flip one up so she could check the bottoms.

“They’re done.Can you pull them out?”

“No problem, sugar.”

She went back to his eggs, flipped them, and pulled more bacon from the pan while he took care of the biscuits, setting them on the counter where Elizabeth and Mama could both reach them, then he pulled the butter bell from the back of the counter where Elizabeth kept it and put it on the counter.While she plated his eggs, he went to the refrigerator and got the apple butter.

“What else do we need?”Kevin asked as she cracked eggs into the skillet for herself.

Elizabeth scanned the counter, checking for anything missing.

“A knife for the butter and a spoon for the apple butter, I think that’s all,” she said.