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Did someone have a baby?

“Em,” is huffed louder and full of much more exasperation. “Don’t make me use this the way the good lord ain’t intend on a Sunday.”

Giggles precede me popping out of the kitchen chair to dart across to the island to where she’s impatiently waiting. “We definitely don’t want that!”

“Mmmhmm…” she hums matter-of-factly, lively smile just lingering on her deep, hickory brown skinned face.

Upon my arrival, she hands me the cooking utensil, yet the instant it’s in my hand, something strange hits me.

Tilts my head.

Has my gaze finding hers.

“Wait,” confusion claws around, grasping for clarity, “since when do you let me stir?”

Gam Gam quirks an eyebrow.

“And where did those flowers come from?” I gesture to the crinkled, maroon plants in a vase. “Are those…lilies?”

She doesn’t bother answering.

“And-” my interrogation movement returns to her, only to become self-interrupted over the sight of a small swan tattoo on my wrist, “-when did I get this?!” There’s no stopping me from rubbing it to see if it’s real. “And why?!” Additional bewilderment bursts through my expression as I meet her stare again. “What the hell is going on?!”

“Volume,” Gam Gam chastises, displeasure evident. “Act right before you get smacked on the behind right.”

My lips press firmly together in surrender.

Okay.

That sounds like Gam Gam.

But letting me help in the kitchen isn’t.

The flowers situation?

Maybe she has a secret admirer.

Maybe…I do?

And the tattoo thing?

Future me was always brave enough to get one, to take the risk, but that’s not now me.

Also…where’s Noodle?

Whenever I’m in the kitchen, he’s always here too!

Something is wrong.

Or…perhaps…off?

“What’s going on?” leaves me in a soft, frightened whisper.

She offers me a familiar grin that drops a brick into the pit of my stomach.

“Why’s everything…” my spoon wielding hand flails around, “weird?”

“You teach a college course on creative writin’ and the best word you could come up with was weird?”