Yesterday's Embers by Deborah Raney

hunk for herself, and put the rest on Harley’s highchair tray. Trying to be discreet, Mickey winked at Kayeleigh and followed suit.
    They ate in silence for several minutes, everyone’s chewing noises magnified.
    Landon elbowed Sarah, eyeing her second burger. “You gonna eat that?”
    “Yes, she is,” Doug answered for her. “If you’re still hungry, there’re some apples in the fridge.”
    “No. They’re gross, Dad. They’re all squishy.”
    “Oh. Well, maybe Grandma can make a pie out of them.”
    Harley grunted for more to eat, and Kayeleigh put another handful of fries in front of her.
    Doug took a swig of pop and offered Mickey a crooked smile. “It’s kind of like watching a bunch of pigs at a trough, isn’t it?”
    “Actually, I feel right at home.” Mickey grinned. “This is pretty much what lunch at the daycare is like every day.”
    Laughing with him, she relaxed a little and listened to the kids’ banter, no longer feeling like she had to make conversation.
     
    W hen the last fry had been polished off, Doug rose and started collecting paper plates and cups, hoping Mickey would take the hint and go home. She got up to help, but he held out a hand. “Don’t bother. I’ll handle this.”
    She followed him into the kitchen, rolling up the sleeves of her shirt as she went. “Let me help with the dishes.”
    He decided to aim for levity and turned his back to the overflowingsink, stretching out his arms as if he could hide the pathetic mess. He made his voice deep. “Close your eyes and back away. There’s nothing to see here, folks.”
    “Too late,” she said, laughing. She had a nice laugh.
    “You don’t need to get involved.”
    “I don’t mind. I’m not easily intimidated.” Her expression turned serious. “Let me help. It’s always easier with two.” As soon as the words were out, she cringed.
    He remembered the day at the daycare when he’d snapped at her. He felt bad now.
    “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean—”
    He waved her words away. “Don’t worry about it. I-I’ve noticed everybody seems to think they’re putting their foot in their mouth around me these days.”
    She nodded.
    “It’s not you. Everything seems to have…double meaning, you know?”
    “Exactly.” Relief shone in her blue eyes. He’d never noticed before that she had such blue eyes. Liz Taylor eyes, violet almost. Striking with her olive Latina coloring. He shook his head, trying to banish the thought. What was he doing? Kaye wasn’t dead two months, and he was mooning over a strange woman’s beautiful eyes? Knock it off, DeVore .
    He grabbed the bottle of dish soap off the counter and squirted a stream into the side of the sink with the fewest dishes in it, then turned the water as hot as it would go.
    Mickey nudged into the space beside him at the sink and went to work on a pot with macaroni and cheese cemented to the bottom.
    Doug grabbed a dishrag and rinsed it in the soapy water. He headed back to the dining room, where the kids were arguing about what to watch on TV. “Huh-uh. Turn it off. No TV until your homework’s done,” he said.
    “Da-ad,” Landon started.
    Doug cut him off. “End of discussion.” He handed Kayeleigh the soggy dishrag. “Please go wipe off the table so you and Landon can get going on your homework.” He put a hand on each twin’s head. “You two go get your pj’s on…and take Harley with you.”
    When he was sure the kids were on task, he came back to the kitchen to stand beside Mickey at the sink. She’d already emptied one sink and was starting on the other side.
    “Wow. You’re fast.”
    “I’m running out of room.”
    “Huh?”
    She nodded toward the precarious stack of dishes drying in the rack on the drainboard.
    He rolled up his shirtsleeves and grabbed a couple of wilted dishtowels from the back of a kitchen chair. He took a covert sniff, hoping they weren’t sour, before he handed one to her. They worked in silence side by