Bo nodded.
“That’s tomato jam,” April said. “You can put some on your bread to test it out, just like the other new jams we tried today.”
There was no way Bo was doing that. But Khall was grateful to April for trying. Her heart was in the right place, and she was accepting Bo’s limitations respectfully. In Khall’s experience, not too many people met his daughter where she was.
“Okay,” Bo said thoughtfully. “I guess I can try some on my bread.”
Khall could feel Minerva going still next to him as they both stared, thunderstruck at Bo, who was using her knife to spread sauce from the dinner on her bread.
April, on the other hand, ignored Bo completely. She placed the pan back on the towel and seated herself.
“I think this deserves a toast,” she said, picking up her own forkful of the slimy stuff. “To teamwork.”
Khall and Minerva followed suit, and Bo raised up her bread with a proud smile.
Khall watched as Bo took a bite at the same time as everyone else.
“Tasty,” she declared with her mouth full.
April smiled at her with so much pride it was almost palpable, watching as the little one put another scoop of the sauce on her bread.
“Aren’t you going to try it?” Minerva asked him.
“Oh, sure, yes,” he said. “Can’t wait.”
He lifted the fork to his mouth, preparing himself for something slimy and alien.
Instead, heavenly flavor exploded on his tongue. Somehow, it tasted better than it smelled. Whatever spices they had used brought the tang of the tomato to life rather than masking it. He felt as if he could taste the sunlight and water that had sustained it.
What had looked slimy to him was actually just melted cheese and noodles. Together, the ingredients were wholesome and satisfying.
“It’s incredible,” he moaned.
“Right?” Minerva asked, smiling in delight.
“Is this a Terran dish?” he asked April.
She nodded proudly.
“It’s inexpensive but nourishing. One of many meals we still remember from Old Earth.”
“I love it,” he told her sincerely. “Thank you for making it.”
“Well, the girls have the recipe now,” she said. “You can make it anytime you want.”
“And you’ll help,” Bo pointed out worriedly.
“Of course I’ll help,” April said.
Khall saw that there were noodles and cheese on Bo’s bread now in addition to a smear of sauce. He took his cue from April and pretended not to notice.
“We saw my cat at the pet store today,” Bo piped up.
“From the window,” April said.
“She looks lonely,” Bo said, her bright voice sad. “Can we adopt her? I promise to take good care of her.”
“Absolutely not,” Khall told her. “We don’t need one more thing to take care of. Plus, an animal would pee on the rugs and scratch up the furniture.”