Page 60 of Everywhere You Look

BY Ms. Mason

Ms. Mason: Luke, how are you doing today?

Luke Cannon: As good as I can be, Lori.

Ms. Mason: I’d like to start by asking about your morning. Was it relatively normal or were there deviations to your schedule?

Luke Cannon: It was normal, for the most part.

Ms. Mason: Can you walk us through it?

Luke Cannon: Sure. My husband, Dean, and I woke up this morning at 5:30. We did a quick workout together in our home gym and then at 6:45,my niece, Ollie woke up. Dean got her changed and dressed while I woke up her older sisters, Lemmie and Mellie. I hung out with the twins in their room for a few minutes, and then we all went downstairs for breakfast. Dean made strawberry pancakes—those are the kids’ favorite—and the five of us ate around the table. Lem and Mel have recently gotten into painting every wall in the house some shade of pink, and they asked if they could do our bedroom next.

Ms. Mason: Are you and your husband going to have a pink bedroom in the near future, Luke?

Luke Cannon: I think so. My girls are total pro-negotiators, just like their mom was.

Ms. Mason: And after breakfast, what did you do then?

Luke Cannon: I supervised Lemmie and Mellie while they brushed their teeth and packed their backpacks while Dean prepared Ollie’s diaper bag, and then we walked them next door to their best friend, Cami’s house. Cami’s dad is Dean’s brother-in-law, and he’s watching them today while we’re here.

Ms. Mason: Wow, a brother-in-law right next door. That must really come in handy.

Luke Cannon: It does. Warren is a total saint. He loves the kids, and the girls love spending time withtheir best friend. Since Cami is right next door, they get to be together as much as they like.

Ms. Mason: Does Cami’s mom help with the kids, too?

Luke Cannon: She does. Kira is Dean’s sister, and she was good friends with my sister Gigi before she passed. She’s known the girls for pretty much their whole lives. If we weren’t all here today, she’d probably be hanging out in our backyard, drinking iced tea with me and Dean while the kids play soccer.

Ms. Mason: Wow. That sounds almost perfect. It must be nice for the girls to have so many people who care about them so close by.

Luke Cannon: It’s nice for me and Dean, too.

Ms. Mason: Do the children like spending time with you and Dean?

Luke Cannon: Oh, definitely. Dean especially. Lem and Mel are his little shadows. They follow him around all day long, begging to play and read stories. But if they aren’t with their friends or at school or dance class, they want to be with us. We’ve recently started teaching them flag football, and it’s been a blast.

Ms. Mason: And Ollie?

Luke Cannon: Ollie is the coolest little kid. She’s turning one this weekend, I can hardly believe it. Weplan to do one of those smash-cake photo shoots this weekend to celebrate.

Ms. Mason: What flavor?

Luke Cannon: It will be her first time trying cake, so we’re going safe with vanilla. But the pink and green icing is sure to make for some fun, messy photos.

Ms. Mason: That sounds like a delight. Does Ollie enjoy spending time with you as well?

Luke Cannon: I’d like to think so. She’s been trying to say my name, but she only gets as far as “Loo”. And she loves using her doll’s brushes on my hair. I have the bruises to prove it.

Ms. Mason: Luke, I’d like to ask about your sister, Gigi. I’m sorry for your loss.

Luke Cannon: Thank you. I am, too.

Ms. Mason: You and your sister were close, correct?

Luke Cannon: We were. She took care of me for most of my life, and she became my full-time caregiver when we left our parent’s home twenty-one years ago.

Ms. Mason: You were thirteen when you left home?

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