The muffins have been simply popping out of the oven when Aaron got here down the steps, rubbing his eyes.

“What on earth are you doing baking at six within the morning?” he requested with a yawn.

“Could not sleep,” Keeley mentioned casually. “Why are you up?”

“Contemplating how early I fell asleep, I’ve already gotten about ten hours of relaxation. I really feel significantly better now. Can I’ve a kind of?”

“I made them for my dad however yeah. Wait a couple of minutes although, they’re nonetheless sizzling.”

He walked behind her and began the coffeemaker earlier than sitting down and ready for it. “I assumed you have been seeing him tomorrow.”

She unfold butter over the tops of the muffins whereas they have been nonetheless sizzling so it could soften in. Nothing was higher than a heat buttery muffin. Sadly, her dad must settle for chilly buttery muffins as a result of they’ll have cooled significantly by the point she acquired to Brooklyn. Oh effectively.

“He isn’t doing so effectively as of late,” she admitted, refusing to say the rationale why. “I will spend the night time over there so he would not must be alone right this moment or tomorrow. Are you able to feed Molly for me?”

“Yeah, I can do this.” Aaron paused earlier than talking once more. “You are a extremely good daughter.”

Keeley was shocked. He had by no means instructed her something like that earlier than. Although it match with what he had been doing recently, saying something that got here to thoughts.

“Thanks. I strive however I am undecided it is sufficient. I am all he has left and I am so busy on a regular basis…”

“I am certain he understands. I guess he is actually happy with you.”

She smiled. That was precisely what she wanted to listen to. He had gotten so significantly better at regarding folks.

She handed him a muffin. “Right here, they’re finest after they’re heat.”

He bit into it gratefully because the espresso machine dinged. He requested her if she wished some too and acquired out one other mug when she nodded.  As she took a sip of her espresso, she observed one thing that almost made her spit it out.

Aaron was utilizing the dumb Sharpie mug she made for him for Christmas. Now that she considered it…she had seen him use it two different occasions this week as effectively. It should be his favourite.

Keeley’s coronary heart skipped a beat as she remembered how completely satisfied he had been to obtain it. And the beneath the mistletoe kiss that got here afterward. She gave it to him as a result of she thought he may discover it humorous however had no thought he would treasure it a lot.

The guilt she felt earlier got here creeping again. What was she going to do about him?

===

“Keeley, what are you doing right here?” Robert requested in shock as he sat on the sofa watching baseball together with his pajamas on.

“Bringing you muffins,” she mentioned cheerfully as she set them down on the desk. “I will keep right here tonight so we’ll be able to go to the cemetery very first thing within the morning.”

He gave her a wry smile. “You are anxious about your previous man, aren’t you? Actually, I am high-quality.”

She sat down subsequent to him and clasped his palms in hers. “I do know you are not. When was the final time you bought along with anybody from work or frolicked with the neighbors? You are spending an excessive amount of time by your self.”

Robert sighed. Both his daughter was omniscient or he had been an excessive amount of of an open guide. He had been distancing himself from everybody however it was solely as a result of he did not wish to burden them together with his disappointment.

“You are too good in your personal good. I’ve simply…actually been lacking your mom recently. It could have been our thirtieth marriage ceremony anniversary this 12 months however she’s been gone practically half that point.”

Keeley wrapped her arms round him. He had cherished Monica greater than something. After all he would miss her.

She knew about her dad and mom’ love story: that they had been next-door neighbors rising up. Robert was three years older however they have been the closest in age of their whole constructing, which principally consisted of senior residents, in order that they spent a number of time collectively.

They performed collectively practically each day from the time Robert was eight and Monica was 5. She had been devastated when he went off to school in Pennsylvania and referred to as and wrote him on a regular basis. He proposed over Christmas break his senior 12 months and so they acquired married two weeks after he graduated.

He did not simply lose his spouse; he misplaced his oldest pal. It wasn’t terribly shocking he refused up to now anybody. 

“I am sorry, Dad. I do know it isn’t the identical however I miss her too,” Keeley mentioned as she squeezed him tighter.

“No, it isn’t the identical. You misplaced your mom. That is a complete different sort of ache. I do know I might by no means make up for her not being there however I did my finest.”

“Do not discuss like that! I by no means felt an absence of affection in any respect. You are the perfect dad in the entire world,” she mentioned fiercely.

She felt a couple of of his tears fall onto her shoulder and her coronary heart broke somewhat extra. Spouse and son. Mom and brother.

That they had each misplaced a lot however in any case that Keeley went by means of in a while she discovered it simpler to simply accept. Her dad hadn’t healed the identical means she had. Dwelling twice actually put your issues in perspective.

“I do not know what I’d do with out you, honeybun,” he mentioned in a shaky voice because the tears continued to fall. “I am so glad you are still right here.”

It crossed her thoughts that Aaron had lived by means of what would have been their thirtieth marriage ceremony anniversary alone too. He most likely skilled one thing similar to what her dad was feeling now. However her dad had her; he wasn’t fully alone.

Aaron had no one. How had he even been capable of stand it?

“I am not going anyplace,” she reassured him. “I like you, Dad.”

“I like you too.”

Keeley patted him on the again and wiped away a couple of stray tears of her personal. “Come on, let’s get you some muffins. I did get up early to make them in any case.”