“Thanks Ma’am. We will.” Myles promised.

###

Adam came slowly out of his drunken stupor and glanced around. He didn't remember seeing the twins for a few days. They were either up to something or were getting better at avoiding him. He staggered down the stairs and checked the stove. The fire was nearly out and it was chilly. He threw a few pieces of wood in the stove and waited until the fire was burning good again. Making his way into the kitchen, he realized he was hungry and had no idea how many days since he had eaten.

He decided to put on a pot of coffee but the canister was empty. When he opened the refrigerator, it was empty except of a few moldy shapes that he could not begin to guess what they had been originally. There was half a bottle of clabbered milk, an empty and dried up bottle of ketchup and a few slices of green bacon. He closed the door in disgust and went to the pantry.

When Martha had been alive, it was always well stocked with her home canning and a variety of store bought cans and jars. Now the only thing he saw were a few cans scattered across the nearly empty shelves. He ignored the can of corn, the can of tomatoes and checked the next shelf. He passed over three cans of hominy. On the top shelf, clear at the back, he found one can of vegetable soup. Adam carried it back into the kitchen, found a small saucepan, a can opener and heated the soup on the stove. He carried the pan to the table and sat down to eat. His stomach hadn't felt food for so long he wasn't sure it would stay down so he ate very slowly and tried to clear his head.

Adam had been blacking out so often, he didn't know what month it was, let alone the date. He walked upstairs for a long overdue shower and tried to think. The sharp sting of the hot shower was invigorating and he shook his head and tried to clear out the cobwebs. Tonight, he would go to bed and try to sleep instead of just falling unconscious.

Adam slept for eighteen hours before groggily trying to lift his head. Stumbling down the stairs, he tried to decide whether he wanted breakfast or a drink. After a quick glance around the empty kitchen, he decided to stick with the bottle.