Page 111 of Forfeits

Aiden laughed. “Oh yes. You were fantastic. An equine dream.”

I blushed. “What gave you the idea?”

“Huh. Honestly?”

I gave him a look.

“I’d always wanted to try it, and I had a sneaky suspicion that you might like it. My Treasure,” he said, cupping my chin and kissing me softly. “I hope we get to play that game again.”

“Aiden, it’s my new favorite thing.”

* * * *

In an email, I told Annie that I wanted to have them over for supper because I regretted the tone of the last conversation we’d had. I apologized for being tired, on my last nerve and raising my voice.

She agreed to come, only stating and I quote, If this is to try to change our minds about Lucy, it won’t work. At least she’d admitted that they’d been out of line with some of the things they’d said that night.

I restrained myself from throwing my laptop across the room and, even though that was exactly the reason I wanted them to come over, said that I would try to keep that in mind. I also said that I would cook a lasagna from scratch, which I regretted as soon as I’d sent the email.

I was a decent enough cook. I’d made this lasagna a few times already, and it had been Daniel’s favorite meal, so I’d figured I could make it again without too much trouble. When I actually began the process, I realized that Daniel had been alive the last time I’d made it.

“Here. Careful. Why don’t I chop the carrots?” Daniel asked.

“It’s fine. I’ve got it under control.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Go sit down. Have a glass of wine.”

“Well, if you insist.”

Fifteen minutes later, when I was swearing and cussing and trying to be quiet, because Lucy was in the other room watching Beauty and The Beast, he came into the kitchen again and placed a soft kiss behind my ear.

“Fletcher, darling. Let me help you. I’m a pretty good sous chef, remember?”

“Okay, fine. But I wanted to do it all myself.”

“Why? What are you trying to prove?”

“I don’t know. That I can take care of you?”

“You do take care of me. In lots of ways.”

“I wanted to feed you. I should be able to do this by myself.”

“Who says?”

“I don’t know.”

“Just shut up and move over. I’m only helping. You’re steering the ship.”

Aiden had come over to help get the house looking ship shape, so he was vacuuming and tidying up, bless his heart. Lucy had gone out with Patrick and Robin to see the new Marvel movie and go for dessert after. And I was in the kitchen remembering the last time I’d made lasagna and crying into my noodles.

“Oh my God, what’s wrong?” Aiden said when he noticed.

I shook my head and waved him away. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”

“You’re obviously not.”

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