252 Lively Breakfast
252 Lively Breakfast
“Right, Mommy…” Oliver agreed with the loyalty of a tiny soldier following his general.
1
Axel stared at the two of them. They were allies.
That meant he lost.
He realized he could not forbid her. Not without
raising suspicion or making himself look
controlling.
After emptying his coffee cup, he exhaled slowly.
He tried to calm the urge to wrap both Evelyn and Oliver in bubble wrap and keep them inside
the house.
‘Man, stop being so possessive. This is so unlike your usual style, he told himself whileughing in
his mind.
“Fine,” Axel said atst. “If you really want to hike, I will not stop you.”
18:04
1/10
Evelyn smiled, pleased and honestly surprised, She had expected a longer argument.
“But,” Axel continued, tone firm, “Ryan and Lisa will go with you”
Evelyn frowned and rested her fork on the ce, eyes locked onto Azel–more confusion than annoyance filled her expression.
“Ryan and Lisa? Why? I thought the mountain belonged to us, and so does the cabin<b>.</b><b>” </b>She paused to study his face. “You also told me there are guards everywhere. <b>That </b>ce is safe
“Mo… Mommy…” Oliver struggled to speak with a half–chewed sandwich <b>in </b><b>his </b><b>mouth</b>. After he swallowed, he continued, “Maybe Daddy worries
Mr. Bear will eat us.”
Evelyn and Axelughed.
“There is no bear around here,” Evelyn said with a smile. “Right, Dad?” She asks, looking at Axel.
18.04
:
252 Lively Breakfast
Axel silently gulped before answering, “My
darling wife, I am not sure about Mr. Bear, but this is only for precaution. I feel better knowing they are with you.”
Evelyn was speechless. She knew there were no bears in the area, having heard from Jimmy that the territory was free of them.
“Since when do I need bodyguards to walk up a mountain? To our cabin? You are the one who said that ce was safe.”
Axel sighed quietly. She was right, of course, but he could not tell her what he suspected.
“Maybe you need Ryan to carry Oliver if he bes exhausted,” Axel tried. He nced toward his son, hoping for support. “Right, buddy?”
Oliver finished his milk and then shook his head.
Axel stared at him helplessly.
18:04
3/10
252 Lively Breakfast
“No, Daddy, I will not get tired. I enjoy hiking just like Mommy.” He took a slice of pumpkin pie and continued, “Maybe Uncle Ryan cane along, and if a bear suddenly appears, he will probably try to make friends with it.”
Axelughed inwardly, not because Oliver agreed, but because the image of Ryan befriending a bear was strangely fitting.
He cleared his throat andposed himself. “You are right, Buddy. Mr. Bear might appear.”
Evelyn watched the two of them, amused and speechless. Axel watched her back, trying not to
reveal his tension.
Oliver, who seemed entirely unconcerned with their silent stare–down, returned to his pumpkin pie like a referee who had given up on the match.
Evelyn eventually sighed. “Alright. Ryan and Lisa
cane.”
18:04
4/10
252 Lively Breakfast
Axel rxed a little. “Good.”
She resumed eating, though her suspicions. lingered. Something about Axel was odd. Too protective. Too cautious. But she could not guess what it was.
Across the table, Axel watched her again. Every smile she gave Oliver warmed him. Every gentle touch on their son’s hair made him want to pull them both into his arms.
But the troubling suspicion in his mind about Evelyn’s possible pregnancy kept returning. He needed answers.
He needs to contact the doctor.
After the lively breakfast.
As soon as Axel left for the office, Evelyn and Oliver were practically excited. A whole day hiking to the cabin was rare, especially with how
18:04
5/10
252 Lively Breakfast
busy she had beentely.
Oliver ran into the kitchen first. “Mommy, we have to pack lots of food!”
Evelynughed and followed behind him. “Yes, we do. What do you want to bring?”
“Everything,” he dered with the seriousness of a king nning a feast.
Laura entered the kitchen and blinked at the chaos. “Are you two preparing for a pic or a full expedition?”
“Hiking,” Evelyn said. “We will go to the cabin.”
Oliver puffed his chest. “Mommy and I will spend the whole day there. We will cook there…”
Laura’s eyes widened. “Then we need a lot of food.” She immediately opened the refrigerator and began pulling out containers.
Evelyn smiled. “We don’t need too much. I can
18:04
6/10
252 Lively Breakfast
only carry a few things, and Oliver can carry his little backpack.”
“No, Ma’am… Absolutely not. You should not carry anything heavy. Let me help.” Laura said.
Evelyn paused. That reaction felt oddly intense. “Laura, it is fine. It’s only a short hike. I’m not fragile.”
Laura pressed her lips together, then whispered, “Still, I do not think you should overexert yourself, Ma’am.”
“It’s just walking…”
Oliver, chewing an apple slice, said confidently, “Uncle Ryan will carry everything anyway. Mommy will not carry anything.”
Laura let out a relieved sigh. “Good. That is… good.”
Evelyn narrowed her eyes. Something was very off. Since when did everyone act as if she might
18:04
7/10
252 Lively Breakfast
break? Easily?
Still, she let it pass. They finished packing buns, patties, meats, fruits, snacks, and a thermos of hot tea. Oliver stuffed cookies into his pack and zipped it up with determination.
“Ready, Mommy?” he asked.
“Ready.”
Before long,
Ryan and Lisa met them in the backyard.
Oliver sprinted ahead the moment he saw Ryan, so the two of them started at the front,ughing and racing each other.
Evelyn walked behind them at afortable pace
with Lisa beside her.
The morning air was crisp, and sunlight flickered through the trees. She inhaled deeply, feeling a
18:04
8/10
252 Lively Breakfast
rare sense of calm.
Until she heard the quiet rumble of an engine behind them.
She turned and saw Jimmy and Laura driving slowly, following them from a distance like an overly polite stalker.
Evelyn stared at the car, then muttered under her breath, “My goodness. Did Axel ask them to follow me? Why do these people suddenly think hiking a few miles will make me exhausted and need assistance and an ambnce?”
Lisa pressed her lips tighter. Clearly trying very hard not tough.
18:04
Sara Lili
<strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.