He Destroyed My Youth, Killed My Child, Now He Begs, But I Am Gone Forever novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: Pancakes

Yvaine's POV

At seven the next morning I was standing in Hamish's kitchen with a spatula, trying to remember how to make pancakes for a child.

The pack cook had offered twice.

I had said no twice.

A warden had come to the kitchen window at six to tell Hamish that Beatrix's rider had crossed into Hale land.

Nobody had said what the Hales would do about it.

I kept glancing at the window anyway.

"You're burning the first one," Finlay said from the stool beside the stove.

"The first one is for the cook."

"That's what Linnea says when she burns it."

"Linnea is a very wise woman."

"Linnea is up there," Linnea said from the doorway, in a robe, with her braid half undone. "And Linnea would like coffee before anyone starts discussing her."

She poured a cup and sat on the counter next to the toaster.

She had clearly done it every morning for years.

I flipped the pancake.

Finlay watched it land and leaned so far over the stool that I put a hand on his back.

His shirt was warm.

It was the first time I'd touched him on purpose, and he didn't seem to notice, which was a mercy.

"Can I ask you something?" he said.

"You can ask me anything."

"Linnea says you're my first mother."

I kept my eyes on the pan.

"Linnea told you that?"

"Daddy told me, and then Linnea said it again so I'd remember." He swung his feet. "I don't have to call you Mama, though. I asked. Linnea said you'd say it's okay."

I turned around.

Linnea lifted her cup and hid behind it.

"It's okay," I said. "What do you want to call me?"

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