“I’m hungry.”
“If you’re hungry, I’ll make you a bowl of pasta when it’s done. Now, give me that.”
I held out my hand for the noodle, and Maddie placed it in my palm.
“I think the sauce needs one more good stir before it’s ready, OK?”
Maddie nodded, bringing her stepping stool back over to the stove and positioning herself in front of the big, blue Creuset Dutch oven that I was making the pasta sauce in. The lid was heavy, so I lifted that while Maddie picked up the nearby wooden spoon that I’d been using to stir and dipped it into the pot.
I watched her stir, pleased that she was able to focus. Cooking was special for Maddie, one of the few things that really caught her attention.
Once I was confident she was fine, I checked my phone to see what time it was. It was getting close, both to the hour that Valentino was supposed to arrive and Maddie’s bedtime.
“There!” she said with a smile. “It’s good. Can I have some now?”
I stepped over to the pot and dipped my finger into the chunky sauce, smiling at how good and rich and hearty it tasted with just the right blend of spices. I loved cooking, and now having such a big space in which to do so was enough to make me practically giddy with excitement.
“Sure. Give me a sec.”
“Can I watch TV too?”
One of the big rules in our little household was that there were no screens during meals—the only exception being when I was busy with work or doing other things and didn’t have time to sit and eat. This was looking like one of those times.
Not only did I have to finish making dinner, but I also still needed to get the table ready for our guest. I glanced around, looking at all of the unpacked boxes here and there, thinking once more about how Valentino had said he’d had his place put together by the end of his first weekend. I’d had good intentions for that, but at the same time I knew that I’d be taking stuff out of boxes as needed for the next few weeks.
“Let me ask you this, kiddo,” I said. “What did you do today that you’re in trouble for?”
“I went into Dr. V.’s yard without asking.”
“That’s right. What else?”
“I played with Mick without asking.”
“Yep. One more thing.”
“I broke a promise I made to you.”
“You got it. Now, are you ever going to do any of that again?”
She shook her head so hard that her black tresses tossed around her face.
“No.”
“He could’ve been mad at you for what you did. It was very nice of him to be so patient with you.”
“Yeah…Oh! And I want to play with Mick again!”
“And I bet Mick wants to play with you, too. But you have to be a good girl, OK?”
“OK.”
“OK, you can watch TV while you eat. But when Dr. V. gets here, you’ll say good night and that’s it. No hanging out because it’s time for bed.”
“Alright.” Equal parts disappointment and acceptance were in her voice.
I grabbed a bowl, scooping a little pasta into it and topping that with Bolognese.
“Can I have some cheese, too?”
