That makes Luke silent, while Aiden looks at him with a clueless expression and then at me. I touch Aiden's shoulder to reassure him, plastering a tender smile on my face.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap. I'm just..." I sigh again, unable to finish my sentence.
The dinner is served, and the three of us eat quietly. Luke's presence still makes me uneasy, and I guess that he feels the same.
Aiden looks up from his plate and shifts his attention to us once in a while with his innocent stare, and I feel even more guilty.
He must have realized that his uncle and I are having a cold war right now.
"So, what about the music assignment that you told me about a while ago?" I've decided to break the uncomfortable silence and focus my attention on Aiden. "Did you learn a new song?" I smile.
Aiden grins, his eyes twinkling with excitement at this subject.
"Yes," he exclaims. "The song is cool, and everyone in my class loves it."
We continue chatting as Aiden blabbers about his activities at school, and just like usual, Luke is thrown out of the picture.
At first, I thought that he would feel completely left out because we’re acting like no one else exists at this table, but when I catch sight of him gazing at us with adoration, I realize how wrong I was.
Luke watches us like he has never seen something so precious, a small smile tugging at his lips as his eyes soften, as if Aiden's moment with me is something that he treasures the most.
The way he stares at us makes me feel strange, but before I can think further, Ms. Langston brings us the dessert, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Here's your favorite, Aiden." She gives the boy a warm smile, placing three plates of dessert for us on the table.
"Carrot cake," Aiden exclaims with joy, like he can't wait to devour his favorite dessert.
I chuckle as he eagerly takes his first bite of the cake toppedwith fluffy cream cheese frosting.
"You love the cake, don't you? Do you love carrots?" I ask. I thought most kids didn’t like carrots.
Aiden shakes his head.
"Ew, no. I don't like carrots, but carrot cake is different." He speaks with his mouth full so I can barely hear his sentence.
I laugh, watching him swallow the food before I start to eat my dessert too.
"What's your favorite cake?" Aiden asks, making me turn to look at him again.
"Banana," I say. "I love banana cake."
A smile touches my lips as I remember the taste and the good memories about it.
"My dad used to make it for me with chocolate icing. Love it," I blurt out, not realizing that I've just talked about my dad.
I freeze. I can't remember the last time I talked about him. It seems so long ago. My heart feels like bursting as I admit how much I miss my dad.
When I finally snap the sad thought away, I notice that Aiden is staring at me with wonder.
"What's so special about banana cake?" he asks, curiosity in his eyes.
A sad smile forms on my lips.
"I guess it's special because of the memories behind it." I sigh. "To have someone dear cook for us makes the food taste a thousand times better, doesn't it?" I affectionately touch Aiden's nose. "Don't worry. Next time, I'll let you taste the best banana cake in town. I know some places."
Aiden grins from ear to ear.
Still, I know that the cake will be nothing compared to the one baked for me by my dad. I realize how much I miss that banana cake.
