Chapter 8: No Morning

I woke up alone in the bed, and sunlight was coming through the window.

The room smelled like coffee and cinnamon.

Her rule said no morning.

I pulled on my jeans and followed the smell down the stairs.

Minnie was behind the counter in an apron with flour up to her elbows, rolling dough with a long pin.

A tray of cinnamon rolls sat on the rack beside her, and a plate of eggs sat on the end of the counter with a fork.

She didn't look up.

"I know," she said. "Don't say anything."

"You made me breakfast."

"I make everyone breakfast. It's a bakery."

"There's no one else in here."

"Eat your eggs, Nolan."

I sat on the stool and ate the eggs, and they were very good.

She slid a cinnamon roll in front of me without a word.

I took a bite, and for about one minute I forgot what day it was.

Then my phone lit up on the counter.

Slade: Doors open at 1. Don't be late, bro. I saved you a seat.

I turned the screen so she could see it.

"Today's the open house," I said. "I'm going."

She put down the rolling pin.

"Not yet," she said. "The footage is stronger when we use it all at once. There's a better day for this."

"I'm done waiting for a better day."

"Nolan."

"Delaney threw my father's books in a dumpster," I said. "I've been standing at the curb my whole life. I'm walking across."

She was quiet for a while.

"Then give me your phone," she said.

She sent the three videos over to it with floury fingers and handed it back.

"Fine," she said. "But I'm coming."

"You told me to stay out of it."

"I told you to stay out of their sight. That's changed."

Keep reading free with an account. Start Left Behind at the Crosswalk of Life from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.