Page 58 of The ABCs of You & Me

“Bennett’s rescue. Expanding operations, again.” Nancy says, setting down another basket of towel wrapped scones, fresh from the oven. “We don’t usually have this much food. I’m testing out some variations in my original recipe and then different ways to serve them to see which way is best for a crowd,” she explains when she sees my expression.

I nod. “That makes sense. So you’ll include tips beyond the recipe itself?”

“I want to make sure that after the recipe is completed, the end result is as good as it is coming from my own kitchen.”

“Nothing will ever be as good as it is coming out of your kitchen, dearest,” Karl says confidently, pulling Nancy onto his lap. “Unless you’re cooking in someone else’s kitchen. Then I suppose it would be.” Sophie watches her parents over her coffee and rolls her eyes.

“I swear he’s still trying to win her over with flattery,” she says.

“Lifelong goal, kid,” Karl murmurs without taking his eyes off his wife, her own expression calm as she looks back.That. That right there is what I want.

“Feel free to come to my kitchen and bake anytime,” I say before popping a piece of scone into my mouth.

“You don’t need any help in the kitchen,” Sophie scoffs.

“Oh?” Cass looks up from her plate, “What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

Sophie’s eye roll is directed at me this time. “He’s very good in the kitchen,” she says, leveling me with a look that dares me to contradict her.

“I’m fine in the kitchen.”

“He’s being humble. I’m going to make him go to the farmers’ market with me soon to buy ingredients, then beg him to teach me how to use them.”

What she said was innocent, but she may as well have admitted that she wants me to drag her to bed and do unspeakable things to her all night long. Beg me to.

“I don’t understand how you grew up here and still can barely fry an egg without messing it up,” Cass teases.

Sophie looks over at her mother. “Listen, someone has lightened up considerably when it comes to sharing the kitchen.”

Nancy smiles sweetly at her daughter and slips off Karl’s lap to sit in her own chair. “The kitchen was a bit of a retreat for me, and not having to worry about busy little hands around burners and knives was always nice.”

“Hey, I couldn’t help it,” Sophie huffs.

“Well, we know that now,” Karl insists. “But at the time we were worried about your safety. And your mother’s sanity.” He grins at Nancy.

“Pfff,” Cass scoffs. “No one is sane here. It’s why I fit in so well.” We all laugh.

“So, Bennett’s expansion?” Sophie asks, circling back to the conversation we entered during.

“Oh, it’s so good,” Cass exclaims, and I see Sophie flinch before a tight smile appears.

Nancy doesn’t miss the expression. “We didn’t want to bother you while you were getting situated in a new job. We knew you’d worry and focus on us rather than yourself.”

“I’m not worried,” Sophie says. “I know you two aren’t impulsive… anymore.”

“Be impulsive one time, and it sticks with you forever.” Karl throws his hands up dramatically.

“I mean, it was kind of a big thing to be impulsive about, Dad.”

“Marrying your mother wasn’t impulsive, it was unavoidable. Kismet. Fate. Everything. Besides,” he says indignantly, “why waste time calling her my girlfriend when I could call her my wife?”

I have no idea what is happening. I want to ask for some kind of backstory, but I’m enjoying the banter too much to interrupt.

“It’s not for everyone, kid. We got lucky. That being said, when you do it you expect everyone to. I kept expecting you to walk in with a ring on your finger with an announcement with Gregory.” Karl chuckles.

Sophie stiffens, and before I can even think my hand is on her knee, squeezing. Her hand slides across my fingers, and I flip mine palm up and thread our fingers together. I brace for the zing of touching her, but nothing comes. I’m too focused on keeping her grounded. Desperate to keep her light from dimming. This isn’t a romantic gesture, it’s a caring one.

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