f it-every little

acking down, she just grew

to the living room, she forced

gry? I can make you

ir, Noah and Edith both froze. E

en't feeling well?

leared her throat. "I took the meds i

ed for it to kick in. She'd been so wrapped up in figuring out how to win

e her a small,

park his wheelcha

e craving. I'll whip it up for yo

en reply, Noah nearly

? Coo

en. Cooking, to her, was practically a foreign language. She al

to cook? Somethin

uld just take it easy. We've got a chef at the

st let me know what you'd like, and I'll ha

eer her away, while Curtis just

d of reaction. She didn't waver

ipes on my own. I want to coo

ze lingering on her fo

thing about her words that stirred something in him. A tiny

eat anything," he finally s

there was this subtle note of

o say more, clearly freaking out. "You

fore-what kind of mira

aised a hand to cut

a goofy grin. She looked

eady making a dash toward the kitchen-

ed seriously, "Edith, does Cur

and Edith were

today? Did she actually just

r a second, then a

at are sweet and spicy, but he

then went straight into the kitche

vements awkward, fumbling with ute

on her face? T

itchen door for a wh

didn't look ha

*

ried out a few homemade dish

obviously seeing the effort

iliar warmth cre

picked up a bite, a

lly... better

e table

slowly. Then he looked

you lear

t her hea

hange would definitel

idn't I? I can't stay c

t. Her voice softened, almost shy. "I just figured..

for a beat but didn't

ide, let a bit of wariness

ckton seemed to be headi

ton was pleased, tha

ense, picking at his f

Delia, more than a

usly have a c

ood thing. At least Mr. Stockton mig

nder an odd but no

calm face didn't match the t

ze, like a puppy waiting for

at aside and kep

his lips, he said s

ike a switch h

, and she leaned

m so glad y

e what else you like to eat-I'll lea

ightened slightly

way, pausing like he was

an before, and listed two dishes-

refully, anxiety creep

hand, and she'd responded with an eye-rol

iefly. He was bracing f

caught him comp

surprised, then a

ike those kinds o

stomac

here always make everything so bland. I

ted off. She looked like sh

e home for meals. It was all parties

Curtis liked to eat,

meals were always made

ret rushed in

s felt a jolt in his chest

even thought about it. "You..

Delia out of

t into Curtis' eyes

membered what she liked-but she'd

e hit her

ng a shaky smile. "I'm just... rea

t I liked, but I never car

seeing her eye

een her look

softened his voice,

should've don