Someone knocked on my door, and I groaned. The alarm should have gone off ages ago! And now Chase would tease me because in the mornings I sleep in so late that it's 'hibernating'. He knows about my bear obsession, and can sometimes be a bit annoying about it. "Bear, get up!" Chase yelled. "Mum made breakfast!" I quietly sighed (trust me, I am NOT a morning person) before slowly getting up and throwing on a comfy brown outfit. I don't care about clothes as much as Chase does - baking and photography are much more important. 

When I got downstairs Mum was making eggs on toast and Chase was brushing his hair with the comb I got him for Christmas last year. I sighed. I remembered how, just a couple of years ago, the household was so big and cozy. We had Grandma Salma and Grandpa James, Noelle and Nathan and Macy. I miss those times. It was so much easier then. 

"Mum, where's Dad? He's never around any more!" I moaned. I was tired and grumpy, and what I really needed was Dad to cheer me up and get me exercising. But the last time I had seen him was yesterday morning, when he left for work with one of my cupcakes. I didn't know if he had come home. 

"Honey, Dad  . . . hasn't come back yet. I'm sure he's fine, and he'll be back soon," explained Mum. I had a horrible suspicion about what he could be doing, but as I opened my mouth Chase gave me a warning look, to say that if I mentioned my suspicion Mum would just get more upset. I shut my mouth. 

Mum finished the pancakes and we ate them in silence. Since it was a weekend we didn't have school, but Chase went to his part-time job at the retail store and I retreated into my bakery to make some cookies. When Dad came home I would give them to him. Mum was probably moping around, browsing on the computer and making huge meals. It made me sad to watch her without Asher so I kept away from her. 

The cookies burnt. I was worrying about Mum and Dad and then they burnt. The cookies for Dad burnt! I was so upset and frustrated that I left the burnt cookies on the bakery counter and stormed inside to watch TV. 

I was watching the cooking channel when there was a knock on the door. Mum was upstairs napping and Chase was still at work so I answered it. I grinned.

Dad was home.