The hobble was slowly getting faster now that August had rested a while. Which was a good thing since she forgot the world existed sometimes when she was playing her favorite games. As she carefully made her way around some toys and such on the floor, she looked up to see Beau closing the fridge door.
Oh right. Lunch was a thing. “Sweetie? Whatcha making?”
“I um…” Beau was always nervous about making food, preferring to do heat and eat or take out. But this time? He had truly outdone himself.
“Ahhhh! Beau! You made Poke’ Bowls? Really?” It was all there. The sweetheart was obviously trying to hide it as a surprise. August almost felt bad about spoiling the surprise.
“I um… well I had some extra cash and I was going to try…”
“Oh sweetie…” August hurried over and hugged him tight, giving a kiss on the chest given the brown fuzz on his face was still there. “Thank you. This means so much. Do you want me to help with anything?”
“No no… you go and sit down.” he smiled a bit, that warm summer smile.
August nodded and headed back to the chair so she could rest her knee. This had caught her off guard. She knew he was making rice but well, in this house rice was as common as bread. It was a food everyone could agree on making that was an easy and healthy side dish. She just thought Beau was going to make some rice and warm up some of the roast to go with it.When he brought it back he had a spoon and chopsticks. His sweet smile coming back. “The rice isn’t very sticky so you might want the spoon.”
“Thank you.” She said as she picked up the silver chopsticks with a clatter.
After a moment he turned on the tv. “Mind if we watch something?”
“Sure, maybe that anime about scientists in love?” It was the least she could do. August knew he’d been itching to watch that with her.
As they both ate and the anime played on, August tried not to chuckle too much. It was meant to be a rom com of sorts, but Beau was always so absorbed in these things. Maybe that’s why he had good ideas for romance. He was fairly good at calling out characters with creepy ideas, but maybe that also meant he was picking up the good ones to use later. When she was done eating, the next episode had just started and Beau was looking at his phone every so often.
August always assumed it was 100% the ADHD. He wasn’t on medication so sometimes he was interested in a show but couldn’t maintain focus much longer and gave himself a mental break. But maybe he was sometimes recording ideas for later. Beau did like lists. August smiled to herself, imagining some digital list on his phone that outlined all sorts of ideas for later use. Sure probably a bunch were duds. August saw his list of dead ideas in the past for stories and plot points. That poke’ bowl was probably on there though.
Well, maybe she could start her own list. It was easy enough to start a private idea board online.August could put ideas in it, copy and paste ideas that her friends had. The works. Still the question was, what could she do now? The dishes would need to be done but he wasn’t about to let that happen. He’d be more willing to clean up a mess she made than… hmm…
Beau was going to teleconference with his therapist in a bit. That took an hour and she could easily make some of those. If Beau made a fuss, August would claim they were for the girls too. But Beau really did like getting things.
She was so lost in thought,August nearly missed Beau saying he was going to get ready.
“Oh right. Have a good session sweetie.”
“Thanks.”
As soon as he was in the bedroom with the door closed, August got up and set to work. This wouldn’t take long at all. The mixer was kept on the counter at all times now in case she needed or wanted to make something. She quickly set to work getting the eggs and butter from the fridge. Not looking carefully since she was in a rush. She only had a little bit of time to make the brownie cookies. She got the sugar and brown sugar next and quickly measured everything out so the sugar, eggs, and butter could cream. The TV was still playing, so she was fairly sure Beau couldn’t hear anything. August was wishing she wasn’t wearing her socks right now, but wasn’t the time to switch out. It wasn’t long before everything was measured and being incorporated. Of course she forgot to turn down the speed and some of the flour and cocoa powder flew out and onto the counter and floor.
“Gah I’ll need to get a broom after this…” While Beau would clean up the mess she didn’t want to leave much of one for him. Surely August could clean some of it up.
A few more minutes and the cookies were in the oven. She let out a breath and looked at the mess. It wasn’t too bad. Just a sweep and wipe down for most of it and then a quick scrub while the cookies cooled. Just as August started walking to the closet for the broom, she found some of the flour on the floor and slipped, she quickly grabbed the island and held on tight. She didn’t fall all the way to the floor which was good, since in her current state she wouldn’t be able to easily get up again. But her bad knee banged into the island. August bit her lip to keep from shouting. If Beau heard he’d make a fuss and feel terrible about the cookies and such. No.
A little stubbornness wasn’t a bad thing in this case, August figured. She pulled herself back up and grabbed the cane she leaned against the fridge. Ok. It’d be ok. Oh god that was a fire in her knee. How was she going to clean up the mess? She looked around and headed to the office chair Beau used. Within moments she had the broom, the chair and her cane. Pushing herself around in the chair and carefully started sweeping as she moved. She got everything into their standing dust pan just as the timer went off. Thank goodness this was a small batch of cookies. Just a dozen or so. There would be less to clean up and she wouldn’t need to keep going between the counter and oven. It was a bit of work doing it from the chair but she got the cookies out of the oven and onto her little side table.
It took a lot of workarounds, but soon August had things cleaned or soaking, she even had the office chair back in its home before Beau came out of the bedroom from therapy. He seemed to stop and take a deep breath. “Did.. you bake?”
“Well, I couldn’t let your friends show me up, you know?” August grinned. “I made your favorites. Even felt good enough to clean up most of my mess.”
“Oh August… you didn’t have to.”
She had been mentally rehearsing what she’d say if he said this. “And you didn’t have to make that lovely lunch.”
She carefully got up. “And I was feeling great.”
Beau looked her over for a moment. “Are you sure you’re ok?”
“I’ll be fine. Promise.” August lied through her teeth. He didn’t need to worry about her. He needed to have one afternoon where he could relax and enjoy things guilt free. “Go and get us some cookies, They’re still warm.”
She let Beau pass before heading towards her chair again. It wasn’t Beau’s fault she was like this. She just wanted him to not worry sometimes. To feel like a normal husband with a wife that could spoil him and treat him right. Not a half broken old lady of a human being. August glanced back seeing Beau sneak an extra cookie as he set up a plate. That little smile on his face.
He deserved a lot. So did the girls really.
After they both got settled for the snack Beau spoke up. “You know if you are feeling better, the girls were hoping you could come to practice today.”
Shit. She didn’t feel good enough. But if she admitted that then…”Sure I can come. I should probably take a dose of my meds though. Those benches can make me flare up.”
“Good point. Now or in a bit?”
“Maybe now is better.” August watched as he went off. OK. He had no idea at least. He was certain it was preventative. She’d just need to be careful. And there was no story time tomorrow, so it’d be fine. Right? Right.
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