Page 23 of Imperfections Seduced
“I will, bye.”
“Later.”
I put my phone in my bag and head upstairs to change before I find something to eat.
After my shower, I change into my gray yoga pants and a pink top and go down to the kitchen. When I get there, I see Sophie in the kitchen cooking something that smells really good. I stand in the door and watch as she stops dicing up a tomato, walks over to the pots, lifts the lids off and smells what’s inside. Stirring with her wooden spoon, she brings it to her mouth for a taste and nods her head; she likes what she’s tasted. When I was small, I spent hours watching her cook. She would let me help her, and I felt so important. She would call me her little chef’s assistant. She would talk to me about my day, and we would sing songs. Sometimes she would let me comb her long brown hair, and I would tell her I wanted to have hair just like hers when I grew up.
“Whatever you’re cooking smells wonderful, and I’m starving, please tell me it’s almost finished.” I walk into the kitchen and kiss her on the cheek before I hop onto a stool around the island.
“I have to get used to you walking into a room again. It’ll be ready in five minutes. Do you want me to get you something to drink?”
“No, I can get it myself. What’re you cooking? It really smells good.” She stops cutting up the vegetables for the salad and looks up at me.
“Honey, you look nice but tired, did you have a rough day?”
“Kind of. I was job hunting and ran a few errands, and I didn’t have time for lunch.”
“You must always make time to eat. You’re not going to do yourself any good if you’re passing out all over the place because you’re starving yourself.”
“I wasn’t starving myself. I was so busy I forgot, and by the time I remembered, I figured I might as well wait till Iget home.” She looks at me and starts talking with one hand.
“Well, try not to do it again. I don’t want you looking like a skeleton. That’s not attractive for anyone. Take my advice, men like a woman with a little something on them, and I think I might have a man for you.”
Not Sophie too! “Sophie, I do not need a man right now. What I need is food.”
“Everyoneneedsa man, whether youwantone or not. What’s life without a little romance?”
“Simple and uncomplicated. Now, what’s in the pot?” With an easy smile she opens the pot with a flourish.
“My grandma’s world famous shrimp French creole gumbo with long grain rice, my three cheese macaroni and cheese, and glazed honey barbecue chicken breast.”
Oh my God. As she’s talking I can feel my stomach churning and my mouth watering. I’m so hungry. “You’re killing me. Please tell me it’s done. I don’t even care if it’s half-done. I’m going to eat like right this minute, I’ll help myself—you don’t even have to take it out for me!”
“You didn’t even let me finish telling you what we’re having for dessert.”
“What is it?” I say eagerly. I think I have an idea what dessert it is. “If it’s what I think it is, you’re going to have to roll me out of this kitchen with a forklift when I’m done eating.” With another grand flourish she waltzes over to the fridge opens the door and pulls out my all-time favorite dessert.
“Yes, it is, my strawberry cheesecake, made just for you.”
“I love you.”
“I know you do. You sit down, and I’ll make you a plate. I won’t have you serving yourself for the first dinner I make for you since you’ve come home.”
“Thanks, Sophie.”
“It’s my job to take care of you.”
“No, it’s not. When I was little, it was. You’re not my servant. I don’t want you to wait on me hand and foot.” She walks over to me, places both her hands on mine, and looks into my face.
“Nonsense. I will take care of you, not because I have to, but because I want to. I’ve watched you grow from a little girl to the young woman you are now. You’re a good girl, and I would like to think I had a hand in that. I will always take care of you.”
I put my arms around her and squeeze her tight, and she does the same. “Thank you. You’re going to have me crying in here like a big baby.” I fan my eyes with my hands so I don’t cry. I hear the kitchen door open, when I turn around I see Kate walking in. She looks at Sophie then at me.
“What’s going on? Why do you look like you’ve been crying?”
“I wasn’t.” I shake my head and smile at Sophie then Kate.
“Your sister and I were just catching up on old times, having a little heart to heart. Making sure she knows how much we all care about her and we’re happy she’s home.”
