Chapter 2 — The Morning Everyone Woke Up Hungry
Emma woke to sunlight pouring through the bedroom window.
For the first time in weeks...
She had slept through the night.
Daniel was already awake.
He had made breakfast.
Fresh pancakes.
Fruit.
Orange juice.
He placed the tray beside her.
"You need to eat."
"What about your family?"
"They'll figure something out."
Downstairs...
Chaos had already begun.
The sink was still overflowing.
No one had touched a single dish.
Margaret opened cabinet after cabinet.
Every clean plate was gone.
Every cup was dirty.
Her younger son frowned.
"How are we supposed to make breakfast?"
Daniel walked downstairs carrying Emma's empty tray.
Without a word, he placed it into the dishwasher.
Then he pressed one button.
The machine began washing.
Margaret stared.
"You could've done that last night!"
Daniel nodded.
"I could have."
He looked directly at her.
"So could eleven other adults."
Silence.
His aunt muttered,
"We're guests."
Daniel smiled politely.
May you like
"So is my wife."
That sentence landed harder than anyone expected.
