Page 35 of A Matter of Time

“Vegetable frittata.”

“A what?”

“It’s like quiche.”

She nodded, holding out her hand for me. “I’m Megan.”

I took the offered hand in mine. “Jory.”

Her face softened and her eyes warmed. “So what’s in the frittata?” I explained about the eggs and vegetables and cheese. “Sounds yum. I don’t usually eat when I’m here.”

“Me neither,” one of the other women said. “It’s disgusting what the guys call food.”

Apparently, the evening had evolved over the years, from Monday Night Football with the boys to couples’ night at whoever’s turn it was to host. Pizza, buffalo wings, and beer had morphed into a potluck. From the sound of it, however, the men were still bringing frat-boy fare.

“I’m gonna cook,” I announced, smiling as I walked to the sink and put down the bags. “Who wants to help me chop broccoli?”

Everyone did.

An hour later I stepped in front of Detective Kage, and he slowly lifted his head until his eyes were on my face.

“Here ya go,” I said, offering him the plate in my hands. He took it, then accepted the fork and napkin I brought for him as well, still staring up at me. “It’s good, try it.”

“What is this?”

“It’s the vegetable frittata, flatbread topped with goat cheese and tomatoes, and green beans with hazelnuts.”

He nodded.

“God, what is that?” the guy sitting beside Detective Kage asked as he reached for the plate I had just surrendered. “It smells awesome.”

“Get your own,” Detective Kage told him, elbowing his friend to keep him away from his food.

I grinned down at the detective. “We have fruit salad for dessert, with a raspberry glaze.”

“Okay.” He exhaled before starting on his food.

I turned to walk back into the kitchen, but Megan, my new friend, stopped me.

“I’m going to open the wine.”

“Perfect.”

“Jory, honey, this is so good,” Linda, who had helped me cook, called from the dining room table. I got a chorus of agreement from everyone else. I ate in the kitchen with Megan and two others, all of us talking about food. They all watched me chop the berries and add the walnuts and almonds to the salad I was serving for dessert.

“I had no idea fruit salad could be whatever,” Bethany, another of my new friends, said as she watched me. “I always just do boring old bananas and apples and oranges. You’ve got none of those in there.”

I shook my head. “I hate all those.”

“God, Jory, you’re gonna make some girl very lucky.” I arched a brow for her, and she giggled. “Okay, some guy very lucky. How do you know Sam?”

I explained to them all that I was in a little bit of trouble and he was helping me out. They accepted my words without hesitation because he was a police detective and obviously straight. They didn’t question me even for a second.

Even though I had cooked, I helped Darla, the hostess, clean up her kitchen, since it was a disaster area. Just the number of empty beer bottles was staggering. I was looking at the very sad-looking herb garden on the windowsill when I felt someone behind me.

“It was good.”

I looked over my shoulder at Detective Kage. “Thanks.”