Toast with Half a Grapefruit

“Crepes with peaches and cottage cheese? Extra cheesy scrambled eggs a la Grandpa Jack and that special Greek yogurt you like so much with loads of berries? Vegetarian omelet? Take your pick. They all come with fresh-squeezed O.J., compliments of the chef.”

He’s wearing the anniversary robe I bought him last year. He hates wearing robes. Well, any clothes other than his boxers between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., but especially robes. He’s sucked it up this morning and put it on to wake up at the crack of dawn, I’m sure, and make everything perfect. For me. Now he stands in the bedroom doorway, sunshine from the hallway window behind him beaming around his dark hair like a halo, transforming him into my very own angel of anniversaries.

Nothing. I don’t want a damn thing.

“Mmm.” Instinctively I swipe my fingers under my eyes where the leftover flakes of mascara tend to settle and pull my hands back through my hair to bring some order to its morning chaos, then prop myself up on a pillow to face my haloed, robe-clad husband.  “They all sound so great. How about a piece of toast and half a grapefruit?” 

Moment of silence. I’m aware that wasn't one of the options, and I give a tired half-smile as I squint up at him in the wake of my lame reply.

The upturn of his smile has fallen a few degrees. "Really, Carrie? You don't want any of those things?"

Nothing. I don't want a damn thing.

Would it kill me to leave some of the wind in his sails this morning? Honestly, at the moment it feels like it might just kill me, but I know it won't. I know I can make it right again. Right now, I can do that. Come on, just say the things, Carrie. Say what things you want.

Nothing. I don't want a damn thing.

"You're too good to me. Really, you didn't have to get up so early, honey." I gag a little bit on the words as they come out, but they come out just the same. The smile is slowly making its comeback. Just a few more words, and it'll be right again. "How about the (Nothing! I don't want a damn thing!) veggie omelet with some of that O.J.? That sounds perfect."