AllFreeNovel
Share Us
What I had to do next was cover the pan with foil and bake it in the oven for an hour.
“Is there anything you don’t know how to cook?” She breathed out with little wonder in her eyes after I put the layered combination into the oven.
“If there is, I haven’t discovered it yet,” I said with faux pridefulness, making her giggle and releasing the tension on her shoulders.
“Proud much?” She arched an eyebrow.
“It’s not pride if it’s facts, is it?” I retorted.
She rolled her eyes, not wanting to admit it. I was about to add to what I said when my phone sounded from where it was placed on the kitchen counter. I checked it and saw that it was a message from Tony. He had just picked up Walter, and they were on their way. According to Aryana, Walter lived in Staten Island, so it would take nearly forty minutes from his place to reach here, not counting the traffic.
“Tony just picked up your father,” I informed Aryana, who stiffened and straightened her posture.
I wanted to laugh at how nervous she was, but the tiny fluttering of my nerves indicated that she was not the only one feeling slightly anxious at Walter’s impending arrival.
The lasagna was still baking and wouldn’t be done for another fifty minutes. What if he arrived before it was ready? I contemplated whether I should make another dish with less preparation time.
“How do I look?” My attention was taken away by Aryana, who was smoothening her already smoothened dress with her palms.
“You look lovely as always,il mio bel tesoro,” I said, hoping my words would comfort her.
“Are you sure?” She peered down at herself. “Do you think he will immediately find out I’m pregnant?”
I stared at Aryana with a perplexed expression. The current Aryana was different from the Aryana I had been living with. The flustered, anxious Aryana was far from the bold spitfire I knew. Seeing her so worked up was a bit disorienting, yet it gladdened me to see another side of her.
“Why did you ask that?” I gently asked her. Perhaps it was the pregnancy that was making her hormones run wild and made her so restless.
“I look fatter, don’t I?” I stared at Aryana’s face, which was still slim, then glanced at her baby bump that was barely protruding and showing through her dress.
I left where I was standing and walked over to her. I held her by her arms, stilling her fidgety hands.
“Il mio tesoro,” I called out, capturing her attention. “You are not fat. You look absolutely beautiful.Meravigliosa.” I whispered the last word into her ears, followed by a quick nibble.
She laughed at my antics and embraced me, resting her head on my chest.
“Since I don’t know if the lasagna will be ready for your father’s arrival, how about you help me prepare something else?” I offered. It was also a way to make her panic subside and give herself something else to focus on asides from the arrival of her father.
“What are we making?” She asked.
I hummed and pondered over the dishes I knew how to prepare in my head.
“You’re the one that knows your father. What do you think he would like to eat for dessert?” I turned the question back to her.
“Ummm…there is no need to go this far, Alexander. I already appreciate the efforts you’ve put into this meeting happening.”
“I want to,” I assure her. “Now, answer me.”
Aryana gave a fond and grateful look.
“I guess he’d like to eat something sweet. Don’t be fooled by his appearance. My dad is a sucker for sweet things.”
How about we make some mango panna cotta? It takes time to prepare, but we can have it afterward.” I suggested.
She thought for a bit before nodding.
The two of us got to work, separating the tasks between us to make the process faster. As we worked together, I guided Aryana through what she should do. It was nice cooking together and made me want to do this more often.
The two of us stood side by side, our shoulders occasionally touching. The atmosphere was mellow, and no panic was lingering in the air. I casually glanced at Aryana and realized that it would be nice to live like this.
