Kyle’s POV

It’s seven in the morning when my alarm startles me, just like every other weekday. It’s a Bake day at Kennedy’s school and I bought the brownies from the bakery near my office for her. I do my usual morning routine before I go around and wake my children.

Keaton does not go to school yet so I go with him last. I go the Kennedy’s room and shake her shoulder slowly. She lies on her back to face me, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

“Morning, sweetheart.” I kiss her on the forehead.

“Morning, daddy.” She says with a raspy voice.

“Don’t fall back to sleep.” I warn her as I am leaving.

“Okay.” She is still rubbing her eyes while dodging her blanket away and gets up.

Next target is Katherine. She must has been awake by now. She always is early just like her mother. I proof myself right when I swing her door open. Her little feet have already walking herself from the bed to her desk.

“Good Morning, daddy!” She chirps.

“Good Morning, Honey!” I lift her up and kiss her on the cheeks.

“I packed my own books.” She proudly presents her flowery bag on the desk.

“You did?” I put her down.

“Yes. I will wake Keaton.” She runs out of her room, leaving me smiling like an idiot.

Now for the real though one. Keith. He has been acting like shit since his mom died three years ago. He is eighteen and yesterday he even screamed at me that he would go to UCLA instead of NYU. He just wants to get away from me as far as possible. How can a once nice little boy turned into a rebellious teenager?

“Keith!” I knock on his door.

“Let’s go, buddy! School is waiting.” I remind him.

Still, no respond.

“Keith! You’ll be late!”

“Keith stayed at Josh’s, dad.” Kennedy alerts me as she walk passes the hallway. “He left after grocery shopping.”

I am so dumbfounded. He called me yesterday.

“Right.”

I run downstairs to make my own coffee and Kennedy is mixing a waffle premix with eggs and water for our breakfast. She pours the batter into the waffle makers and opens up the fridge once more.

“Dad, where is the brownies?” She turns her head to me.

“It’s in there.”

“I don’t see it.”

I walk to her with a smile and when I am about to show it to her, I don’t see it as well. I look at her with a confusion and Kennedy puts her hands on her waist.

“Don’t say that you leave the brownies at your office!” She taps her foot.

A little rewind, I did have to go back to my office after I got the brownies. I went to my office to get my phone and left the Brownies at the table while I was looking for my phone.

I slap myself on the forehead.

“Dad!” Kennedy drops her hands down.

“I am so sorry, sweetheart.” I plead.

“I am supposed to sale the brownies today at school.” She turns back to her waffles.

“I know. I know.” I feel terrible.

“I don’t want to skip the Bake day again.” She literally looks like she is about to cry.

"You could sell this waffle." Bad Idea.

Kennedy doesn't look happy even when I show her my porcelain teeth to make her feel better. She covers her face with her hands and I feel so bad.

"I can't sell the waffles." She groans.

"Daddy!" Katherine comes in between.

"Yes?"

"I think Keaton has a fever again." Katherine informs me.

I give up. This is too much work and I can't handle it by myself. I look back at Kennedy and she too gives up. She sits on the chair and places her both hands on the kitchen counter, dipping her face in between.

"Honey, I will go to the bakery and get you some brownies." I say to Kennedy.

"The Daily Crumbs is opened at nine, dad." She reminds me.

"We'll find another Bakery, then." I try to find a solution here.

"That's the closest bakery we have." Kennedy whip.

The sound of my youngest son crying is calling my name from upstairs and I can't just let it keeps going. Katherine is already demanding waffles to Kennedy and I am still lucky because Kennedy is so sweet to put aside her anxious about brownies to serve Katherine some waffles.

"I'll go see Keaton and I'll figure out about the bake day, okay?!" I am talking to her as I am climbing the stairs, but she doesn't respond.