Page 39 of The Kitchen Contract

She swipes at her eyes with her fingertips and snorts a mirthless chuckle. “I bet you’re wishing I’d left after the cookies and let you clean up by yourself.”

“Not at all, Rose. I’m just sorry you’re sad.”

“Me too, but I’m kind of used to it by now. This is just who I am.”

“I like who you are.”

She blinks up at me in disbelief. “You like dropouts who lie to their parents and cry all over their friends? Sounds like something is wrong with you.”

I laugh. “I’m not saying there’s nothing wrong with me. Maybe next time I’ll tell you my story and let you see just how messed up I am. But yeah, I like you. I see a girl who knows what she wants and tried to make it happen. I see a girl who cares about honoring her parents and feels bad about keeping something from them. I see a girl who is making something of herself even despite all of the obstacles that life has thrown her way.”

Her face crumples and at first, I think I said the wrong thing, but then she snuggles into my chest again and says, “Aww, now you’re really making me cry.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s okay. These are happy tears.”

We stand like that for a long minute until she pulls back.

“Thank you, Alex. It feels good to tell someone the whole truth. Thank you for not judging me.”

“Nobody’s perfect, not even me.” I wink at her, and she hiccups a laugh. She has no idea how serious I am about that.

“And hey, it’s never too late to talk to your folks. I bet they’d be more understanding than you think.”

“I don’t know. Every day that goes by makes it weirder to tell them the truth. I never even told Sammy that I didn’t finish because I was afraid it would get back to my parents.”

“You could write them a letter. Maybe that would be easier than calling them one day and saying, ‘Hey Mom, I have something to tell you.’”

“Or an email. That way they can reply with all their disappointment immediately,” she quips, and I’m glad to see her sense of humor returning.

“Now you’re using your head.”

Nora glances at her watch. “I really do need to go. I have work tomorrow.”

“I won’t keep you, then.”

She gathers her bag and the now empty crate that she brought ingredients over with and I walk her to the door. I flip on the porch lights and follow her out to her car, opening the backdoor so she can stow her stuff inside.

She pauses with her hand on the driver’s side door handle. “Good night, Alex. Thanks again.”

“Good night, Rose.”

As I watch her drive away, all I can think about is the desire to call her back and wrap my arms around her again.

24

NORA

“Surprise!” I hold the gift bag out to Alex when he answers my knock.

“First of all, you don’t have to knock,” he says. Obviously, he’s forgotten what happened the last time I didn’t knock.

“Agree to disagree,” I respond cheerfully as I shove the bag into his chest. “Go on, open it.”

“And second, what is this for?”

“I’ll explain once you open it.”

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