Eleven And Going Strong

[Magdalene DeFoe]

Mag heard the gurgling strain as the coffee maker finished brewing the last of the coffee she had made. She glanced up the stairs, her hands shoved in her black hoody pockets. She wore jeans with a grey tank top underneath, a casual attire for Mag that wasn't seen often. She wore the slightest bit of makeup, her dark hair damp and wrung back in a twisted bun to keep the loose curls in place. She set two mugs out on the counter, antsy to get Nathan outside to see his present. Butterflies were alive in her stomach, dying to see what Nathan thought. This was their eleventh month. They had been through everything together, including starting Pendragon Equestrian together.

Hearing footsteps coming from upstairs Mag's head snapped around, her heart leaping then settling once more upon seeing it was Nathan's daughter, Shilo, making her way down the stairs in her flannel pajama pants and Friesian portrait t-shirt that was much to big for her small fram. Her long dark hair was in a mussed ponytail, suggesting that the nine year old had slept in it.

"Hi sweetheart," Mag said with a smile, opening an arm to hug the young girl who shuffled groggily toward her and hugged her in return. Mag ran her hand down the back of Shilo's head to try to smoothe a few of the hairs that had come loose and were falling in tendrils down the side of Shilo's face. "You want some cereal? What are you doing up so early?"

"Has Dad seen... " Shilo glanced over her shoulder, sitting down on one of the counter bar stools that were pushed toward the island counter as Mag retrieved the milk out of the refrigerator. "The you-know-what?"

"No, he hasn't appeared downstairs yet," Mag said with a grin, exchanging glances with the younger girl as she poured Apple Jacks into a bowl and poured milk into it, retrieving a spoon before setting it down in front of Shilo. "I hope he likes what he sees."

"I think he will," Shilo said matter-of-factly, taking a spoonful into her mouth. Mag chewed the inside of her lower lip, one hand on her hip.

"Or he'll kill me for it," She said dryly, casting a glance upstairs. She had gotten the gift settled. It was just a matter of getting Nathan out there to see it. It was her anniversary gift to him, and she hoped that he saw what she had in it.