Chapter 12: When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Coffee

I stroll into the kitchen, throwing open the cabinets and fridge. Good - we have the stuff I need to make some chocolate chip pancakes. After I get out the ingredients, I get some coffee going, too. As Lucy likes to say, "When life hands you lemons, make coffee." Things are always easier when you're properly caffeinated.

Alex left his mom's birthday barbecue for you, I remind myself as I get out the mixing bowl. Your apology is going to need a lot more than pancakes and coffee.

I'll promise to buy him some more whiskey, for starters - though I'm afraid the fancy stuff he drinks now will completely drain my bank account. I'll probably need to do something for his mom, too. Poor Norah is probably wondering what the hell happened.

"Do I smell coffee?" comes a cheerful voice.

When I look up, Lucy is there, her hair up in a messy bun and a terrycloth bathrobe thrown over her tank top and pajama bottoms.

Shit. Lucy is normally a late sleeper on the weekends - she works as a waitress at