Page 15 of Vincent
"Drastically."
"Okay David, it's up to you to guess the secret recipe I added."
The boy's eyes went huge. "There's a secret?"
"Of course. Which I will not be sharing unless you guess correctly."
His brows wrinkled. "Is it sugar?"
Althea laughed softly, delighted in him. "Nope."
"Milk."
"No. I will tell you another time." Reaching for one of her embossed bakery bags, she packed the rest of the cookies away. "Now your grandmother told me you're going to a sleepover with your best friend."
He nodded. "Charley. We're going to eat pizza and play video games."
"The dream of every six-year-old. This is for you and Charley."
"I can have more?"
"Of course. I made it for you and your friend."
With a whoop, he jumped off the stool. To her surprised pleasure, he came around and hugged her at the waist.
"Oh." Her eyes flew to Vincent who stood there watching, his heart beating rapidly. She hugged the little boy to her and felt her heart doing a funny flip.
"All right David, go upstairs and grab your toys. Not all of them, mind you."
"Bye, Thea!" he called out as he raced from the kitchen.
The silence left behind was pregnant with feelings.
"He's beautiful." Althea turned back to the stove and stirred, giving her hands something to do.
"You're here."
"I am."
"No one told me." He stood where he was and wondered at the desire to touch her.
"Spur of the moment thing." She removed the saucepan and started drizzling something creamy over some tiny looking pastries. "Do me a favor?"
"What's that?"
"Taste and tell me what you think. I added an extra element to it and want to know if your guests will appreciate it."
"I don't-"
"Sit," she ordered.
Blinking in surprise, he did just that and felt himself jolting when she popped the pastry into his mouth. She waited until he had chewed and swallowed.
"Well?"
"It's. What the hell is it?"
"I haven't given it a name yet. What do you think?"
