Pancakes and Small Moments
Emily and Nick played together for almost an hour — laughing, running around, and making a mess of toys everywhere.
After a while, Emily tugged at Elara's dress.
"Mommy, I'm hungry," she said, her big eyes pleading.
Elara smiled. "Alright, sweetheart. What do you want to eat?"
"Cupcakes!" Emily said instantly.
Elara laughed. "Cupcakes? Hmm… how about pancakes instead? They're quicker."
Emily gasped dramatically. "Yes! Pancakes! I'll help!" She turned to Nick. "You too!"
Nick nodded eagerly. "Okay!"
Kane, who had been watching them from the couch, finally stood up with a small smile. "Guess I should help too, before you two burn down the kitchen."
Elara chuckled. "Alright, Mr. Willison. You can mix the batter."
Soon, the kitchen filled with laughter. Emily and Nick were playing with flour, both of them dusted white from head to toe. Elara tried to keep them steady while Kane flipped pancakes.
"Hey, no throwing flour!" Elara warned, trying not to laugh.
"But it's fun!" Emily giggled.
Nick reached for a cup of water to wash his hands, but it slipped — splashing water all over the floor.
"Oh no!" Nick gasped.
Before Elara could notice, she stepped backward right into the puddle. Her foot slipped — and in the next instant, Kane's arms were around her.
"Careful," he said softly, holding her steady.
Elara's heart skipped. They stayed like that for a few seconds — her in his arms, eyes locked. Then she quickly stood up straight, her cheeks warm.
"Yay!" Emily shouted from the counter. "You saved Mommy!"
Kane laughed lightly. "Guess I did."
Kane stirred first, his eyes blinking open to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains.
For a moment, he froze. His hand had been resting on Elara's waist, her warm skin pressed lightly against him.
He jerked his hand away immediately, sitting up straight, heart racing.
"Elara…" he muttered softly, but it was enough to wake her.
Elara's eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding her face. "Mmm… Kane?" she murmured, voice still sleepy.
She blinked around the room and immediately noticed Nick and Emily curled up at the other side of the bed, fast asleep, their little breaths soft and even.
"Oh…" she whispered, realization dawning. She sat up, brushing hair from her face. "Good morning."
Kane cleared his throat, looking anywhere but her. "Morning."
Elara stretched and swung her legs off the bed. "Nick and Emily are still sleeping peacefully," she said quietly, glancing at the two kids.
Kane exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Right… I should probably—"
Elara gave a small smile. "You don't have to stay here, Mr. Willison. You can use the guest bedroom. Nick's asleep, so it'll be quieter for everyone."
Kane nodded slowly, still flustered. "Thank you," he said, his voice low.
Elara turned and went to the door, gesturing for him to follow. "Come on, I'll show you the way."
Kane followed silently, careful not to glance too often, though the warmth of the night still lingered in his thoughts.
Once he was settled in the guest bedroom, Elara returned to check on the kids, smiling softly at the peaceful scene. For the first time in a while, the house felt calm — a small bubble of normalcy amid everything else.
Elara was at her desk, organizing files, when Ethan appeared beside her quietly.
"Miss Vance," he said softly, "I need you to do something for me."
Elara looked up, curious. "Sure, Ethan. What is it?"
He handed her a small envelope. "Take this. It has the measurements for a ring. Bring it with you, and go with Miss Isabella to pick out the engagement rings."
Elara blinked, confused. "Wait… what? Engagement rings? Why…?"
Ethan hesitated, lowering his voice. "It's Kane and Isabella. They're getting engaged. You just… help her pick the rings, okay? Keep it private. No one else can know."
Elara felt her heart skip. "Wha—Kane and Isabella? Engaged?"
Ethan nodded. "Yes. Mrs. Willison insisted. You don't have to ask questions — just do it."
Elara's mind spun. She felt… odd. Uneasy. Her stomach twisted in a strange way she couldn't explain. But she didn't speak. She just nodded. "Alright."
Ethan gave her a small, understanding nod. "Thank you. Remember, don't tell anyone."
---
A few minutes later, Elara found herself in the car with Kane and Isabella. Kane drove silently, his jaw tight, his eyes on the road. Isabella, on the passenger side, glanced at Elara with a polite smile.
"So, Miss Vance," Isabella said softly, "thank you for helping me with this. I really appreciate it."
Elara nodded, keeping her voice steady. "Of course. I… understand it's important."
Kane's eyes flicked toward her in the rearview mirror. Elara felt the tension between them, but she didn't look back.
The store was elegant, quiet. Kane handed over the envelope with the ring size, and Isabella carefully picked out a sparkling engagement ring. Elara's hands shook slightly as she helped.
But inside, her mind was racing. Seeing Kane and Isabella together, planning this engagement… it made her chest tighten in a way she couldn't ignore. Her thoughts went to Nick, to Emily, to the way Kane looked at her sometimes, and a chill of realization ran through her. Something wasn't right. Something she couldn't yet put into words. Why did seeing him like this feel so wrong? Why did her heart feel heavy, as if warning her of something she wasn't ready to understand?
Elara forced herself to focus, to box the rings carefully, but every glance at Kane and Isabella made her pulse quicken. She felt… unsettled, aware, almost like she was standing on the edge of a secret she couldn't yet name.
Elara carefully held the box with the sparkling ring, her hands trembling slightly. Kane, sitting beside her in the store, glanced at her.
"Miss Vance," he said calmly, "which one do you think I should get for her?"
Elara froze, her chest tightening. Her mind was a whirl — Isabella, Kane, the engagement, and the strange feeling in her gut she couldn't shake.
"I… um," she stammered, trying to steady her voice. "Well… this one looks classic. Elegant. Timeless. I think she'd love it."
Kane nodded slowly, studying her expression. "You're sure?"
Elara swallowed hard. "Yes, sir… I mean, Mr. Willison." She shook her head slightly, frustrated with herself for still stumbling over his name.
Kane smirked faintly at her hesitation but didn't comment. "Alright. Then this one it is."
Elara handed him the box carefully. Her heart felt heavy. She watched Kane smile at Isabella — calm, controlled, and completely unaware of how torn Elara felt inside.
As they left the store, Elara forced a small smile. "All done," she said quietly. But inside, a storm of emotions raged. Every step beside Kane felt heavier than the last, every glance at him sending an odd, sharp ache through her chest. She couldn't explain it — not now.
She realized, with a growing unease, that this wasn't just about rings or engagements. Something deeper, something she didn't want to admit yet, was already changing the way she felt about Kane — and about everything that involved him.