hit it off quickly and hadn’t looked back. They took turns staying at each other’s
homes. She kept a small bag of toiletries in the master bathroom off his bedroom.
The kids never used that bathroom, so they wouldn’t notice the extra toothbrush.
The relationship had started off slower. Both had been divorced and were more
cautious. It took seven dates before their first kiss. Casey had been the one to
initiate. William didn't want her to feel pressured into moving further than she
was ready for.
She didn't speak in depth about her ex-husband. She mentioned they were married for
three years and he was the wrong person at the right time.
William told her about Emily. Their stories were similar. Wrong person, right time,
but it took them fourteen years to realize it.
William gathered the ingredients and kitchenware he would need to make the
pancakes. He hoped he hadn't talked himself up too much. He had been perfecting his
pancake recipe for over twenty years.
He measured, poured the ingredients into the mixing bowl, turned on the griddle,
and mixed the batter.
Casey walked into the kitchen when he was halfway through the pancake batter.
“Oh man,” Casey said. “I woke up too early. I was hoping that I would sit down at
the table and you would immediately place the pancakes in front of me.”
“They're almost done,” he informed her.
“Or you could have brought them to me when I was still in bed,” she said. “That
would have been a nice surprise. Pancakes in bed.”
“Well, I didn't want you getting my comforter covered in syrup,” William teased.
“Very well,” she said. “The pancakes better be worth getting out of bed.”
“They will be,” he responded.