Page 24 of Dance with Me
“Don’t invite any of Michael’s carnivorous plants,” Lucian said. “Barney’s world is a mess of sentient plant life and animals trying to win a game of survival of the strongest. Michael dumped his magic there and left it in chaos. I’m not certain I should have been eating those fruits Barney kept giving me.”
“It is a very strange world,” Theo agreed. “I love fruit though. Apples, bananas, strawberries, cherries. I’ve tried a lot. What are dough nuts?”
“Cake,” Yuri said, opening the pantry and finding it not only full, but well organized.
“I can help,” Theo offered. “I might not understand the recipes, but I follow directions.”
“As long as you’re not in the middle of a battle,” Lucian grumbled.
“Says the guy who is really good at almost dying.” Theo threw back playfully.
The noise, while light and playful, seemed to make Star shrink. Yuri patted Theo on the arm. “Do we have berries or fruit? Something you can harvest and bring me? I would love something fresh.”
“Sure,” Theo said and grabbed a big bowl. “I get berries for Lucian all the time.”
“Don’t go far,” Lucian instructed.
Theo waved at him and rushed out the door, leaving it open to the bright sunlight.
Yuri gathered bowls and ingredients, setting them on the counter beside Star. “Would you be willing to help knead?”
“I’ve never actually done it,” Star said.
“We’ll do it together,” Yuri said as he measured ingredients into bowls. Lucian kept a vigilant view out the window as though he feared Theo would vanish, but occasionally asked questions.
“Some recipes have weights, some have… cups?” Lucian asked, glancing back to find Yuri weighing everything.
“Imperial and metric. It’s complicated. I can do both, but baking is more accurate with weight. Does this world have a mixer? Creaming butter is going to suck without one.”
Lucian bent and hit some lever on the bottom of the counter near Star and a drawer popped open, a mixer on a tray slid out and up to lock into place at the counter. “This thing, right?”
Yuri glanced at Star who was carefully stirring the dry ingredients for the donuts. “Your mom had one,” Star offered. “You spoke about it sometimes when I visited you at the bar before the world fell apart. I tried to always erase myself from your memories, but I remembered.”
“Thank you,” Yuri said as he slipped around the counter and hugged Star from behind, kissing his cheek. “You’re amazing.”
Star’s cheeks turned pink. “It’s only a mixer.”
A magic mixer with all the attachments and power of an industrial. Yuri showed Lucian how to cream butter, and they let the machine knead the bread dough, while Star carefully followed Yuri’s instructions for the donuts.
“These donuts don’t have much for rise as they are cake style. I’ll show you the raised ones another time.” They rolled out the dough and cut the rings while Lucian crafted the new batch of shortbread and Theo cleaned the berries he harvested.
Radu appeared with Barney at his side as the first batch of donuts rested in a fresh strawberry sugar glaze.
“Your creature tells me it’s time for food,” Radu muttered. He looked sleepy, hair pulled back from his face in a thick braid, and shirt half unbuttoned. Yuri paused to step in close and get a kiss, for which Radu hummed happily. “Delightful start to the day.”
“I think it’s midday, uncle,” Lucian teased as he gathered his cooled shortbread, flipped them, and piped a creamy layer of filling between them to make sandwich cookies. He held out one for Theo to try who took it and bit in without hesitation.
“Oh, that’s good,” Theo said. “What sort of biscuit is this?”
“Peanut butter,” Yuri added as he swiped one to try. The exterior thin and extra crispy, the interior a slightly sweet creamy peanut butter. He savored the first bite and offered the second to Star who hesitated. “It’s okay if you don’t like it,” Yuri said. “Not everyone likes peanut butter. I’m still making donuts, and bread. I can fry you up a few eggs if you’d like.”
Star took the piece of cookie, examining it, though it looked nothing like Lucian’s previous attempts. He stuffed it into his mouth, holding it there for a few seconds before chewing. Yuri studied his expression.
“Good, right?”
“Yes,” Star admitted. “Peanut butter cookies?”
“Sandwich cookies, yes. It’s a type of shortbread outside. Lots of other things to make.”
