“Chloe,” he called, his voice cutting through the late afternoon quiet as he glanced toward the living room where she was sprawled on the couch with a book. “I need your help.”
Chloe perked up immediately and bounded into the kitchen, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the ingredients. “Are we actually cooking? Like, real food?”
Jack smirked, but the warmth behind the curve of his mouth caught him off guard. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” he said, though something about Chloe’s enthusiasm tugged at a place in him he rarely acknowledged.
Chloe giggled. “What’s the plan?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” He gestured toward the counter. “We’ve got pasta, chicken, and some vegetables. Think we can turn this into something edible?”
Chloe nodded eagerly. “Totally! I saw a recipe online where they made this creamy chicken pasta. Can we do that?”
Jack checked the clock, weighing the time left with a flicker of doubt. He had barely an hour before Claire and Gabe arrived. “Sure, but you’re my sous chef. That means you do all the hard work.”
Chloe beamed. “Deal!”
For the next half hour, Jack and Chloe worked together, with her chopping vegetables while he attempted not to burn the chicken. The sizzle of the pan filled the kitchen, blending with the rhythmic sound of Chloe’s knife against the cutting board. The rich scent of garlic and butter filled the air, making Jack realize just how much better homemade food smelled compared to his usual takeout. Chloe stole a spoonful of the sauce and smacked her lips. "Mmm, this actually tastes good! Dad, you might have hidden talents."
Jack snorted. "Or we just got lucky."
Chloe giggled, stirring the pasta with exaggerated focus. "Can we make this a thing? Like, a tradition? Cooking together?"
Jack hesitated, surprised by how much the idea appealed to him. He glanced at his daughter, her face glowing with excitement, and nodded. "Yeah, kid. I think we can." He couldn’t remember the last time he’d done something so domestic, and surprisingly, he didn’t hate it. More than that, he enjoyed the easy laughter between them, the way Chloe bossed him around like a tiny executive chef, and the sense of normalcy the moment brought.
By the time the meal was nearly ready, the table was set with the best dishes he had unpacked, which wasn’t saying much—but Chloe had insisted on adding candles, claiming it made everything look fancier. He watched her arrange them carefully, humming to herself, and felt a sudden, unexpected swell of gratitude. He had spent so much time worrying about keeping things together that he sometimes forgot to appreciate these small, perfect moments.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts, sending a jolt of nervous anticipation through him. He wiped his hands on a dish towel and took a steadying breath before opening the door.
Claire stood there, a bright smile on her face, Gabe at her side holding a plate covered in foil. “We come bearing dessert,” she announced. “I figured if you poisoned us with dinner, at least we’d have a backup plan.”
Jack chuckled, stepping aside to let them in. “Good thinking.”
As they stepped inside, Claire glanced around, taking in the warm glow of the candlelit table. Her expression softened. “Wow. You went all out.”
“Chloe takes her decorating seriously,” Jack admitted, casting his daughter a look. Chloe beamed.
“Well, it looks great,” Claire said sincerely, then turned to Gabe. “What do you say, bud?”
Gabe grinned. “Smells way better than Mom’s cooking.”
Claire shot him a playful glare. “I’m standing right here.”
Gabe shrugged. “Just being honest.”
Laughing, they all took their seats, and to Jack’s surprise, dinner went smoothly. The conversation was lively, with Chloe and Gabe launching into a passionate debate about whether flying or super strength was the superior superpower.
Chloe insisted flying would be the best because she could travel anywhere without a plane, while Gabe countered that super strength would let him pick up an entire car like a superhero. "But what if you needed to get somewhere really fast?" Chloe challenged. "You’d be stuck just being really strong in one place."
Jack smirked, glancing at Claire. "Do they always argue like this?"
Claire took a sip of her drink and nodded with an exaggerated sigh. "Every day. I’ve accepted that my son believes he’s a superhero in training."
Gabe grinned. "I mean, I’d be a pretty cool superhero. Right, Mr. Jack?"
Jack shrugged. "I don’t know, kid. Chloe’s got a good point. Flight would get you out of trouble fast."
Gabe groaned dramatically. "Not you too!" He turned to Claire. "Mom, back me up."
Claire laughed. "I stay out of superhero debates. It’s a rule."
