Chapter 18. Lips

I prepared breakfast for the kids, especially since it was Friday, and they needed to leave early to attend the flag ceremony at school.

"Where's Anne?" Roy asked.

I looked over my shoulder when I heard Roy's voice, still groggy from sleep. He was sitting there, rubbing his eyes.

"She left," I replied.

I witnessed the furrow of Roy's forehead and the raising of his eyebrows.

"She left?" he asked.

"She mentioned a meeting, right? She's heading there. She left early this morning and didn't get a chance to say goodbye because you were still asleep."

He fell silent for a moment, looking at me. It seemed like he was struggling to process what I had just told him.

"Coffee?" I asked, and he seemed to snap out of his thoughts, nodding absentmindedly.

"Is it that difficult to wake me up?" Roy muttered.

I paused in my tasks upon hearing Lily's voice. I looked at her; she was already dressed and ready to leave, which surprised me beca