Jimmy’s Food Got Cold

Jenny popped up in bed, almost as if in a panic. She had just woken suddenly from a vivid dream by her phone’s alarm. It took a very long few seconds to realize she was awake and that it’s morning on a day off from work. The dream she had made her glad for that. Sometimes she dreams of things she’d hate to wake from, but this dream - though mostly forgotten now - involved huge waves, shadowy figures over the same body of water, and general feelings of dread. She had to get out of bed and not accidentally slip into a similar dream by falling asleep again.

“Ugh… forgot to turn off that stupid alarm.” Jenny exhaled in relief that the dream at least was interrupted by the alarm, and gathered herself as she rubbed her eyelids. “I’m famished,” she said to herself as she meandered to the kitchen.

“What’re you thinking of makin’?” She heard Jimmy’s voice call from the dining room. Sometimes he’d get coffee going, or be washing dishes from last night’s dinner, but mostly Jenny did the cooking. It was no big deal! In fact, she looked forward to it. She found it to be not only necessary since she loves home-cooked meals (even if it’s her making them), but a joy since it’s basically a love language to feed Jimmy.

She practically tripped over her small dog, Paco, as he trotted into the kitchen toward his food bowl. Like clockwork, he knew when mom gets up for the day, it’s food time.

“Did Paco almost trip you again?” Jimmy asked her.

“Ha yeah… you know that little rascal. Thought you saw him just now.”

“Any ideas why he wasn’t wanting to eat as much this last week?” he continued.

“I wish I knew… but at least he seems hungry today. Now, should I just do some simple bacon and eggs, or go crazy and make waffles too?”

Jimmy half-smiled and gave a chuckle then gave her a knowing look.

“You know what, you’re right, I’ll make it all! Feels like a big breakfast kind of day. I didn’t eat as much last week either, though I couldn’t say why.”

Probably twenty minutes went by as Jenny prepared the scrambled eggs and laid out bacon on the foil-wrapped baking sheet. It caught her off guard how silent Jimmy was that whole time, but she could hear Paco’s feet under and around the dining table. Normally Jimmy’s chatting her ear off in the morning. He’s the morning person, after all. When she got the waffle mix out to start mixing, she turned and saw Jimmy reaching down to pet Paco, only Paco walked swiftly to Jenny before he could.

“Oven’s preheating,” she said.

Seeming to ignore her comment, he asked, “Jenny, do you know how gorgeous you look?”

“Oh geez, Jim… really?” she said, blushing. “I can’t stand my morning breath and unkempt clothes.”

He gave her a playful glare.

“I know, I know, honey. ‘In makeup or none, pajamas or a dress, I find you a beautiful, hot mess.’” She quoted back to him as it was something he said so often.

“Do you want to walk around the big park today after breakfast?” He asked, changing subjects.

Jenny turned toward him after grabbing the bowl full of waffle mix. “Definitely! It’s supposed to be nice out, at least before noon. There will be plenty of time.”

As she turned back around to refocus on her waffle mix, she accidentally dropped the bowl. “Paco…” she growled in her “naughty boy” voice. He had gotten right in front of her mid-conversation. The wooden spoon she was using fell toward Jimmy. It was odd since he normally could catch those things as quickly as the speed of light. Somehow it fell this time and the splatter of batter from the spoon didn’t splash on him at all. She cleaned up the small amount on the tile floor with a paper towel and, without missing another beat, got to adding an egg to the batter.

“You want three?” She asked without facing him as she poured the first bit. It took some concentration to make waffles, so her eyes stay fairly glued until she’s made a few.

She had to turn her head for a quick second since he hadn’t responded. She thought maybe he was distracted by Paco again or he didn’t hear her. But he was still there, only he had stood up. “One…two… three.” He kissed her between counts. “Don’t distract me!” Jenny said, giggling. Though it seemed to catch him off guard. His face changed, like he was sad. He sat back in his chair at the dining table.

“Hey… I wasn’t trying to put you off. You’re being sweet. I was trying to be playful… three waffles it is.”

“...do you know how gorgeous you look?”

“You already said so. I love you for that. It’s always good hearing it.”

Jenny suddenly got frazzled.

“You okay, love?”

“Yeah I just should’ve made the scrambled eggs last. They’ll get cold sitting, and some of it’s sticking to the pan. At least the bacon looks perfect. I’ll just keep these warm as I finish the waffles. I’m only making two for myself. Almost done.”

It took about ten more minutes to finish and gather everything. Jenny topped her waffles with blackberries and his with blueberries. She drizzled maple syrup over both small stacks and gave both plates 4 pieces of bacon and as much of what she could salvage from the eggs.

“Hot sauce?” she asked.

Jimmy smiled, so she added some to his and hers, along with more salt and pepper.

When she finally sat down, she sighed a big breath. “I think waffles were too much. Took a lot out of me!” She placed her chin in her hands as she faced him. “Go ahead… you know I want to see you try it first.”

He took a bite of the eggs first, probably to make her feel better they were getting cold fast. He held up a thumbs up and went in for a piece of crispy bacon. Then she started on her own plate.

When Jenny had eaten all her eggs, one of her waffles, and most of her bacon, she heard the doorbell. “Weird… nobody usually visits this early.”

She dropped her fork and let Jim continue eating. When she opened the door, it was her sister. “Hey sis,” Diana said, hugging Jenny. “I just wanted to pop by before I head back to the airport. I know the last week has been rough. I still have to head back, if you’re good.”

“Oh yeah, of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”

Still in the doorway, Diana glanced over Jenny’s shoulder to see her plate of breakfast mostly eaten, along with a full plate of food on the other side, completely untouched.

“You know what, how about I stay a few more days? I can move my flight. I’d rather spend more time with my sister. We can watch a movie, make smoothies, talk about Jimmy, whatever.”

Jenny didn’t say anything, but gave her a weak smile, a little forced, and nodded toward her in agreement as Diana walked in and the front door closed.