192|Illuminating Experience

When Levi drifted downstairs at the crack of dawn, he didn't expect anyone to be up. But Amber stood in front of the kitchen window, nursing a cup of something hot in her hand.

"Good morning. Are you also an insomniac, like Nat?"

She turned away from the window and smiled into her cup. "Hardly. I just have a lot on my mind. Why are you up? Nat kicked you out of bed?"

Levi pulled out a chair and yawned in his hand. "Kind of. She wants pancakes."

Mild intrigue stirred in Amber's eyes. "That's weird. She doesn't like pancakes. It must be the kiddos. Congrats, by the way, and on the engagement as well."

"Thanks," he said, gently massaging the back of his neck. "She gave me a hell of a hard time, though. Took me six tries to get her to say yes."

"I told you she's a runner!" Amber reminded him as she set her cup on the table. "Come on, I'll help you with the pancakes."

Levi gladly accepted her offer, and for a little while, they worked in silence, with Amber doing most of the heavy lifting.