“What's up?” she asks and tucks in a bite of her pancake. “Oh, these are good.” She moans and cuts up another piece. “I never had raisins in my pancakes before.”
“Matty’s idea.” I tussle Matty's hair. He emptied his half-eaten carton of raisins into the batter while I wasn’t looking. Once I saw what he did, I figured what the hell and went with it and added more.
“Good idea.” Holly squeezes Matty’s knee. He grins as he mashes a piece into his mouth.
“I couldn't tell you the last time I made pancakes.” Probably not since I was hungover years ago, but I think it went a lot smoother when I was drunk and high then this time around.
“It's like riding a bike, now what did you want to talk to me about?”
“I think it’s time to add my name to Matty’s birth certificate. Make it official and I’d also like to give him my last name.” It’s been brewing in the back of my mind for a while for my son to carry my name, but I haven’t wanted to bring it up till the time was right.
Her fork clatters to the plate and she gapes at me. “That's serious, serious.”
“I know. I've been meaning to bring it up for a while. Time has gotten away, but what better time than the present.”
“You mean it though? Once it’s done, there's no going back.”
I shove my plate away. This isn’t the reaction I had expected from her. “You don't think I haven’t shown you how serious I am by now? Haven’t I have proven to you I want to be all in with Matty’s life? With your life? I want my son to carry my name. Have rights to him and make sure he’s taken care of if anything were to ever happen to me.”
“I'm not saying that.” She pushes her chair back and walks behind me, wrapping her arms around my shoulder. “You've shown me more than I could ever imagine. Don't get me wrong.”
“Then what is it?” I snip. I thought this would be what she would want. To show I was all in with her and Matty. That I wasn’t going anywhere and committed to them one-hundred percent.
“I guess nothing really.” She brushes back my hair with her hand. “It’s just a big change and I guess I’m digesting it. Nothing more.”
“I thought you would be more excited.”
“I am.” She pushes off me and moves around to sit on my lap. Her fingers brush through my beard. “You’re in need of a trim.”
“Not the issue at hand. Don’t change the subject.”
“I am excited about this. Nothing makes me happier than you wanting to make yourself a permanent part of Matty’s life, but it doesn't mean it’s not a bit scary. And it isn’t you putting your name on the birth certificate that made me take pause it was changing his last name. Overall, it’s not a big deal, it’s just a big, big change.” Her eyes dart to her lap, where she’s playing with her fingers. “How it will give you pride for him to share your name. He had mine, it was only me and him for years.” She stops and bites her bottom lip. “It’s silly now that I’m saying it out loud.”
I tilt her chin up. “No, I get it.” It’s her connection to him. Just like it would be mine.
She smiles and pushes her forehead to mine. “Matthew Levi Morgan does have a nice ring to it though.”
“I thought so too. But we can always hyphen it, if you want.”
“No.” She laughs. “That’s way too much.”
Thank god.
“So.” She runs her finger down my chest. “Should we get a cake to celebrate, Daddy?”
“Cake?” Matty chimes in from his seat, holding a large piece of his pancake.
“I’m going to take that as a yes. And I’m going to make you one, since you did breakfast.”
“Hopefully, you can do it without destroying the kitchen.”
“Check out the size of these strawberries.” Holly lifts the carton in her left hand, showing off the ripe strawberries to me. “These would be perfect for the shortcake I want to make you.” She winks. Matty reaches into the carton and steals one of the strawberries and pops it into his mouth. The juices drip down his chin as he chews the oversized fruit.
“I guess it’s ours now,” I say with a laugh.
“Guess so.” Holly giggles as Matty reaches in for another. “We might need two.”
The three of us have been spending most of the afternoon at the downtown farmer’s market. Stopping at every booth and Holly strikes up a conversation with everyone she meets.
"Liam? Honey? Is that you?” My mom’s voice cuts through the air and I spin around to see her standing to my left, in a long yellow sundress and an oversized flowery derby hat. I give her a tiny wave and turn back to Holly who is paying for the strawberries at the booth.
“I’ll be right back.” I kiss Holly’s cheek. She looks up at me curiously but nods before turning back to the merchant and a strawberry stealing Matty.
"Mom, what are you doing here?" I ask as I pull her into a hug.
The last place I ever thought I would see my mother is at a farmer’s market. I didn’t even think she knew what one was.
"I love picking out my own fresh veggies."
"You don't cook." She never cooked. Not a single meal for me and my brother growing up. We had a chef, thank god, because I’m sure otherwise we would have starved.
"Things change. I’ve been taking classes taught by Chef Jann. Maybe I should’ve done it while you kids were young, but I was always working, helping your
