Rewritten Past

I woke up early in the morning, a bit confused on where I was. Then I realized that I was in my old room and sleeping on my old bed.

For a split second, I panicked, thinking I'd gone back in time AGAIN. But then I felt a pair of small arms hugging me. April.

My foggy mind cleared up and I realized that it was November 26th. The Friday after Thanksgiving. Also, Black Friday.

Of course, I wasn't going to be joining that absolute mayhem anytime soon. I didn't think anyone else was going to either. After all, Dad had work, Mom and Mama Yue were probably sleeping since I was sure they'd stayed up late hashing things out, and April was still sleeping here.

But anyway...

As always, I expertly swapped myself out with a pillow.

April grumbled, but she accepted the pillow and kept sleeping.

After that, I padded out of my room and took a look around.

The alarm clock by my bed showed that it was already 7 AM.

Considering the house was quiet, Dad had already left for work.

A glance outside the window also showed that the snow from yesterday had all melted. It seemed like it was a Thanksgiving miracle for dramatic effect...

Usually, it would be a Christmas miracle, but it seemed like the universe had a flare for drama.

I walked over to the living room to see Mom cuddled on the couch with Mama Yue sleeping on the floor next to her, both of them snug in a shared blanket.

Yep. Looks like that confirmed the night-time reconciliation bit.

But huh. Where was Miss Serena?

The sound of pots and pans echoing from the kitchen answered that question before I could dwell on it too much.

Heading over there, I saw Miss Serena starting to reheat some of the leftovers for breakfast. "You're up early, Miss Serena."

Miss Serena blinked and then looked at me, a warm smile on her face. "Good morning, Alex. And you can call me, Serena or Rina." She giggled. "Mommy works too. If you want."

Ah. April is going to be dangerous in the future, huh?

Miss Serena was naturally like this. And April was definitely going to be worse...

Well. I'll just deal with it later.

For now though...

I gave her a serious nod and said, "Serena then."

Miss Serena... Or I suppose now just 'Serena.'

Anyway, Serena sighed and said, "I tried... One of these days I'll get you to call me Mommy too. A cute little son to spoil would be so nice..."

I pointedly ignored that train of thought from Serena and said, "Did you need help with breakfast?"

"Oh!" Serena nodded. "Yes! Could you help me take out the ham? I think I'll make some omelets with the leftovers. I was hoping I would get up early enough to help make some for your father, but it seems he left already."

I opened the fridge and pulled out the leftover glazed ham, stored in an aluminum tray. Setting it on the counter for Serena, I nodded and said, "Dad always leaves the house by 6:30 AM unless Mommy's sick. But usually he's gone by 6."

Serena took the ham and placed it on a cutting board. Then she started making thin strips of it with a knife. As she did, she frowned and said, "That early?"

"Mmhm." I pulled out a bowl and the tray of eggs for the omelets. "Dad really likes his work."

My father definitely took pride in his job at Public Housing. He was very much a social problem solver.

Which was ironic since he spent so much time dealing with the problems of other people that he completely neglected everything happening at home in my past life... and this life.

But considering I was getting a little sister now instead of a little brother, and considering that I was... well, like this now, he would probably spend more time at home in the future.

Probably.

Serena hummed and started heating up a pan for the omelets. As she did, she said, "I see... you must have been lonely a lot then. Your mommy works too, right?"

I nodded. "Yep. Should I crack some eggs?"

"Oh!" Serena nodded. "If you could, Alex."

I cracked a few eggs into the bowl. As I did, I said, "It wasn't that bad. I liked reading and mostly just stayed home."

I remembered that much of my childhood at least. It was how I got into the habit of reading in general. Also why I was so skilled at academics. Unintentional minmaxing, but minmaxing all the same.

Serena took the bowl of eggs from me and then ladled a bit onto the heated pan, laying out strips of ham and some slices of cheese over them. As she did, she said, "No wonder you and April get along so well." A sad smile crossed her face and she said, "I had to leave her alone a lot as well. I thank the lord every day that she turned out well and was safe, but... I worried a lot every night."

Ah. Yeah, Serena would be worried considering what she had to do. Not to mention that there were probably nights she had to take men home...

Still, considering how April turned out, and Serena's entire demeanor, it seemed like she was shielded from the worst of it at least.

I was thankful for that too. The statistics on those sorts of things...

Well. Let's not think too deeply into that.

Serena finished one omelet and plated it before starting on another. As she did, she gave me a warm smile and said, "That's why I'm so thankful. You and Yue... both of you mean the world to me for what you allowed April to have." She ladled some more egg on the pan to start another omelet and said, "A safe home, a trustworthy friend... and me. Her mother." She turned to me with a soft gaze and said, "Unlike before, I can be with her as much as I want. And I even have a safe, comfortable, and normal job. So... from the bottom of my heart. Thank you."

I blinked, unsure how to process Serena's words. Well, that's not completely accurate. I understood them, obviously. I was just never good with sincere gratitude.

So instead of addressing it, I nodded and said, "Of course. Um... should I set the table?"

Serena giggled. "Oh, you're just like Yue. Both of you are bad with sincerity... But yes, dear. Please set the table for us."

I nodded and quickly moved to do just that. After I laid out the plates, I started up a pot of coffee too. Just to have something to do.

...Please wake up soon, Mom. Or Mama Yue. I'm no good with people like Serena...