Just Another Day

7:00 am. Anne woke up to an 8 year old jumping on top of her.

"Mom wake up! I'm hungry!"

Anne rolled over and looked at her little curly haired child. He was naturally skinny, brown curly hair, and gray eyes. He looked more and more like his biological father every day. The only thing he got from her is her mother's eyes. She grabbed him in a hug and held onto him.

"Just 5 more minutes of snuggles," she said while closing her eyes again.

"Mom I'm hungry!"

"Go make yourself a bowl of cereal."

Alexander jumped out of bed and ran into the kitchen. She laid there and smiled. He always forgets that he can do things himself. She rolled over and kissed Miles on the cheek.

"My darling it's time to wake up and get ready for work. We overslept."

He groaned and rolled over. He hated waking up. Some days she felt that she was more of a mother to him than a partner. She sighed, got out of bed and got dressed. She stumbled into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. Coffee is the only thing that could get her through the day and could get Miles out of bed. She walked to Joseph's room and opened the door. The smell of a teenage boy filled her nose.

"Joseph you have to wake up, you have school. It's the last day of school so get your butt in gear."

The half asleep teenager sat up on the bed. He looks more like a baby faced clone of his father every day. His messy red hair, his lean figure, and his half asleep blue eyes barely looked up.

"Do I have to go to school? It's the last day."

"Yes you have a test today. Now hurry or you're going to miss the bus!"

"Fine."

She left his room and went to try to bribe Miles to wake up. This has been their life. Every morning. Since they moved in together 5 years ago. Coffee, kids, and drive to work.

Miles finally got out of bed with the smell of coffee in their apartment. When Anne walked in her was already dressed. Shorts, a T-shirt, and work shoes. His job of remodeling condos was hard work. She sighed and knew that he was going to have tough day. Him boss was nice, but this time of year he tended to keep Miles for longer hours to make the deadlines so they can go to other projects. It paid the bills, but she often didn't see him until 8 or 9 at night this time of year.

"I made coffee," she said half awake herself.

"Thank you my love," he said and pulled her in for a kiss. He wasn't the most romantic man, but he was head over heals for her. She loved him because he tried every day and helped support her. He knew her heart had been broken, but he was broken too, so it was okay. He looked at her. She was tired, he could tell in her eyes. She needed a break from everything, this life isn't what she had hoped it would be but he knew she held her head high and worked hard to keep this family together.

Joseph ran out the door and went to the bus stop barely missing it. Anne looked out the window and shook her head while laughing. He moved in with them two years ago when his mom was having a difficult time. It's weird being a step parent to a teenager when you're only 28 but it's entertaining. Alexander was stumbling putting on his sneakers. She helped him tie his shoes as Miles was standing at the door.

"Are you guys ready to go?" She said as she grabbed her travel coffee cup.

"I'm gonna win to the car!" Alexander ran out of their apartment to the car. He was always full of energy and loved to race them everywhere. Anne walked outside and sighed. It had been 10 years since the flood but everyday she sees where her old home was. They tore down her house but the plot of land will forever remain empty. A daily reminder of life before adulthood and what could have been. Miles sat down in the passenger seat next to her and smiled.

They drove Alexander to school and then went to Miles's work. He gave her a kiss and then ran out of the car. She drove away, finally alone for 5 minutes. She pulled into the restaurant she worked at. It wasn't a glamorous job and it certainly would t take her to travel the world, but it was money to pay the bills.

"Morning Anne!," her coworker Sally said. She was younger but always cheerful. Anne had worked there ever since she was pregnant but Sally had only been there for just over a year. The two of them worked most shifts together and have almost made a friendship.

"Morning." Anne mumbled while drinking her coffee. They started to work, filling paper goods, cleaning the place, prepping for a days work. It was a small restaurant and during the day there would only be one cook and one waitress. Anne had been there so long she could do it all, but her and Sally and made an arrangement where Anne will cook and leave Sally to be in charge of talking to customers. Day by day Anne learned to like people less and less.

Around 1 pm on a rather slow day two gentlemen came in. They were both dressed nice, wearing polo shirts and khaki pants. They definitely do not belong in this hick town. Anne eyed them from the back of the open kitchen while Sally went over with her cheerful self. Suddenly she looked confused and walked to the back.

"Anne, these guys said that they need to talk to you."

Anne gave her a look and walked over to them.

"Are you Anne Smith?" Said the older of the two. He might have been in his forties, slightly handsome, definitely not from around here.

"Yes I am. What do you guys want? I'm trying to work."

The younger one smiled. He looks to be in his early thirties. Well built, but I did not like the look on his face.

"We need to talk to you about a previous relationship of yours. Do you know a Martin True?"

Anne suddenly looked white as a ghost. It had been 8 years since she heard that name. She excused herself, took her phone out, told someone to cover her shift, and walked over to the gentlemen.

"I know of him. But we need to go somewhere else. I'll tell you everything that I know, but to keep my family safe we need to find somewhere more private to talk. These people here know nothing of him, but if I am to keep everyone safe we need to leave now." She grabbed her things and walked out the door. The two gentlemen looked at each other and then followed.