'Jack and Annie - Kitchen' by Tamar Knott

He sat at the kitchen table watching her dry the plates from the night before, the smell of baked goods filling the air.
“Are the kids up yet?”
“I told them you were coming.”
“I’ll call them.” He made to leave the table.
“They’ll be down in a minute.”
“Okay…” He sat back in his seat again.
“Do you want some tea?” she said, putting down the tea towel and turning to check the oven.
“Um please, if you’re making some,”
“Three sugars?”
“Uh no, Sophie’s got me on sweeteners, says it’s bad for the heart.”
“Oh.”
She shuffled the mugs in the cupboard above the kettle until finally finding the hand painted ‘Daddy’ mug right at the back.
“Are they up yet?”
“How was Cambodia?”
“Oh, um, great, we, uh spent most of the time in the temple, took some nice photos…” He took out his phone, looked at her and then put it back in his pocket.
“Milk?”
“Yeah, please, you got almond?”
“Full fat.”
“Oh, um, ah, well, what she don’t know…”
“The kids will be down in a sec.”
“Annie, I…”
“Don’t.” She stared out the window at the barren vegetable patch.
“But Annie-”
She walked to the stairs, “Come on you two, Dad’s waiting.”