Alice blinked a few times, looked at the creeping
light along the floor of their bedroom, highlighting the dust notes in the air.
It was time to get up, after all she had to remind Dorothy that Roy would
prefer scrambled eggs, not poached.
She brushes down her gown before opening the heavy
curtains in aid to wake up her husband. Roy made an unusual sound, as if
struggling to breathe, before going back to normal.
She
took a moment. A moment to wonder where time went. He was getting older,
after 8 years of marriage, his hair was stark grey compared to Alice's perfect
head of brunette hair. It helps that she was 21 when they married; Roy was 36. They were completely in love- at the
time. His lanky figure grew rounder- a protruding belly and fat rolls on his
neck stole his once handsome face.
Dorothy fret over her apron and hair, making sure
every strand was in its place. “Morning Mrs Lawrence, I’ve just finished
cleaning the kitchen in preparation.”
Alice smiled before taking a seat and
flicking through the newspaper, “Thank you Dorothy,” she breathed.
Roy thumped down the stairs, his feet
heavy. He clumsily buttoned the first few bottom buttons before taking a break
and sitting down ready for his scrambled eggs. “Did you tell her I wanted
scrambled?”
Alice sipped her tea, “Yes, dear.” It tasted odd this morning.
“Good,” he huffed before sipping his own tea and
wishing he was allowed more sugar.
Alice glanced over at him, pausing for a moment.
“Dear?”
“What is it?”
He grunted.
She tilted her head up to be on equal eye level, “You
know, there’s a new café that opened in town. The Turkey Café, shall we go?”
She breathed again.
Roy took a sip of tea, a dribble escaped down into his
stubble- he wiped it away with the back of his hand. “What’s wrong with our
usual?” Usual was safe. He was used to it, familiar, he knew people there.
Alice sat up straight, already accepting the answer
was a firm 'no' but put on a smile anyway. “It’s nice to try new things once in
a while, dear.”
She
didn't enjoy her breakfast. Dorothy was usually a heavenly cook.
But
the eggs were too salty and the bacon too fatty.
