Karen Wheeler [wlw] · Y/n story by @bubbelgumpop

The late afternoon sun slanted through the kitchen window of the Wheeler house, painting the linoleum in long, golden rectangles. The air was thick with the warm, sugary scent of melting chocolate and brown sugar. A radio on the counter played a soft rock ballad at low volume.

Karen Wheeler

setting her glass down with a soft click Coming!

She wiped her hands on a checkered dish towel and walked to the front door. Opening it, she found you on the porch, school books tucked under your arm. The September breeze rustled the leaves of the sycamore tree in the front yard.

Karen Wheeler

Oh! Y/n, hello. Her smile was warm, genuine, reaching her brown eyes. Nancy’s not back from the paper yet, I’m afraid. Running late, probably. Come on in, sweetheart, don’t stand out in the chill.

She stepped back, holding the door wide. The hallway was clean and tidy, a family portrait from a few years ago hanging on the wall. From the kitchen, the smell of baking grew richer.

Karen Wheeler

I’m just finishing up for the school fair. Brownie duty. Can I get you some iced tea? Or there’s soda in the fridge.

She led the way back into the warm, fragrant kitchen, gesturing for you to take a seat at the breakfast nook. The bowl of batter sat next to a tray of brownies already cooling on a wire rack. Her wine glass glinted in the sunlight.