Spaghetti Family part five

We got home from the store, and I started up lunch.

“Robin, babe,” I say as he puts away the rest of the groceries. “I’m thinking of buying a security system for the house. What do you think?”

“Hmm. Maybe,” he is putting away the cereal with a sigh and I frown.

“Listen, if you like, I’ll try to find a job to work at home, so I can be here all the time.” I stir the creamy, warm macaroni cheese sauce in the pan.

“Well, yes, if we can find you a remote from home position, that would be good,” he says in a quiet way.

Manny is in the living room reading a book, and we haven’t yet discussed the situation in any capacity with him yet.

“Okay, I’ll look on the internet tonight,” I drain the pasta and fold it into the warm sauce in the saucepan.

“Add some paprika, it’ll give it a kick,” Robin gives me the paprika and I kiss his cheek.

“Was just about to do that, actually. Thanks, love,” I whisper, and he grins as I sprinkle a generous amount in the mixture.

“Thanks for making lunch. I’m starved,” he says in a long sigh.

“How could you be, you pecking duck, after you gobbled all the sweets up?” I teased. He rolls his eyes.

“You could’ve mopped me up with your hair and kept me from getting into trouble, Harry…” he bats his eyes and twirls around knudging his hip into mine.

“Hmm, you flirty, silly thing,” I say lowly. He winks at me and I grin.

“Okay, lunch!” I say loudly with a clap of my hands and turn off the stove, making Robin jump in surprise, as I go to get the plates. “Manny! Come along! Let’s eat!”

I gather three plates and give everyone a heaping serving of my homemade Mac and cheese, with a sprinkle of diced parsley and white pepper.

Robin grabs a fork and starts right away standing up, and gives me a cheeky grin. I roll my eyes at him and place Manny’s plate on the kitchen table.

Manny comes in and says, “Yes!! You made macaroni! Awesome dad!” And starts digging in before barely sitting down. I chuckle and say, “You’re most welcome, dear,” and he hugs me as I walk by. I hug him back, and I see Robin eyeing Manny in a disappointed manner as he’s shoveling the food down too fast.

Robin frowns, “Son, please eat slower and sit down properly.”

Manny looks at Robin standing as he eats and mumbles with food in his mouth, “But, Papa, you’re standing up!”

“Don’t be a smart alec with me, just because you’re my cutie pie,” Robin eats a huge bite of the hot pasta and goes over, ruffling manny’s long blue hair sweetly, making the small boy giggle softly.

I get my food and everyone a drink, and finally, we all settle down to eat lunch calmly.

“So, do I still have to do home school today, dad?” He looks at me and I give him a knowing look and look over at Robin.

“It’s up to Papa,” I say, and Manny frowns. He knows I’m the more lenient one of the two parents.

“Hmm. I think we can have a break the rest of the day and do something extra tomorrow to make it up,” Robin says, drinking the lemonade he made earlier today with relish.

“Awesome,” Manny replies, eating slower on purpose to show Robin’s watchful gaze he’s grateful for the break.

Robin is a stickler for his homeschool weekday schedule and doesn’t usually stray from it so I can tell Manny isn’t taking any chances to get Robin to change his mind.

“Dad and I were thinking that he could start working from home. Just so things could be…” Robin starts, the fork in his mouth twisting on his teeth nervously.

“Safer. Right?” Manny finishes and I nod.

I nod with a tired sigh, barely touching my plate. “Yes. Exactly.”

“I had an awful dream last night that we were all trapped back… back in that house…” Manny sniffles, and as he says the last word, house, in a trembling whisper, his eyes almost looking teary. Robin and I shift closer toward Manny at the table and then look at each other concerned.

“Then what happened?” Robin asks, his eyes widening.

“We landed, all fell in a deep, dark, scary hole in the ground and just kept falling…” Manny covered his eyes, and Robin got up, going over to him to hug him. “I couldn’t reach you guys. None of us could get to each other…” he cries a little but then wipes his eyes furiously.

“You don’t have to worry. Dad got us—a-all out. R-Remember?” Robin says in a trembling voice. Manny nods and wipes his nose with his sleeve. The picture of us falling and never finding each other again gets too vivid in my brain, and I shut my eyes tightly, trying to etch it out of my head.

“I remember,” Manny agrees and it’s quiet for a moment. Too quiet.

All of a sudden, all our heads turned to a huge rattling sound in the fridge.

“Oi, Robin, the cooler box is on the fritz,” I say, and Robin frowns.

We all get up but I get in front of Robin and Manny.

It’s rattling again, but now it’s much louder. Like a sudden gunshot and Robin jumps loudly and yelps.

“Ahh!” Manny yells, and clings to my back.

I’m silent as I take Manny’s hand, not moving.

“Jeez, did you not get scared by that, Harry?” Robin stutters out. “You’re like an immovable mountain.” I look at him briefly to see his flustered expression, and I give him a solid hopeful smile.

It’s when I look more closely at the fridge do I finally get my scare.

The wording on the fridge has blown up. It’s bigger and darker and all in caps now. And there’s a smear of what looks like….

“Oh, God! What…!” I yell, covering my face with my arm. I can’t finish the sentence, and I feel my heart throttle in my throat, a slamming sword in my gut.

“It’s blood!” Manny yells.

Robin runs over and sees the word smeared with dried blood, his eyes wider than ever.

LESLEY