#Chapter 137: Family Mornings

Iris The morning sun shines through the large windows of the dining room as we all gather for breakfast. Miles is feeling much better, and thankfully, his fever was completely gone when I checked on him this morning. He’s currently perched on my mother’s lap, happily devouring a stack of chocolate chip pancakes that the cook made especially for him. It seems as though Miles’ brief bout of food poisoning last night—likely from the sandwich Arthur and I picked up for him on the way to the airport—has left him ravenous. “Slow down, sweetie,” I laugh from across the table. “The pancakes aren’t going anywhere.” Miles ignores me completely, too busy stuffing his face and basking in the attention my mother is lavishing on him. She seems completely enchanted by him, helping him cut his pancakes into bite-sized pieces and wiping chocolate from the corners of his mouth. The sight nearly makes me burst into tears. Is this what I missed growing up? A mother who