"Can we have spaghetti?" Emma asks from beside me.
"We can.” I walk over to my purse and get my phone out. I google best spaghetti recipe. I walk back into the kitchen. "Do you want to help me?" I ask and she nods her head. "Mia," I call and she comes over. "Do you want a snack and then watch some TV instead?" She gives me the same smirk her father has and nods.
"Yes, please,” she says and I look at the fruit bowl in the corner of the counter.
"I’ll cut you some apples and oranges," I tell them, walking over and washing my hands. Luckily for me, I unpacked the kitchen, so I know where everything is. I cut apples and then the oranges and place them in the plastic bowl. I turn on the television and they watch while I grab an onion from the fridge and start dicing it.
I grab a pan and start putting in the olive oil and then adding the onion. I follow the recipe to a T, and thirty minutes later, the sauce is simmering. "I think we should make some cupcakes," I say and they both nod their heads. Walking over, I grab a boxed cake mix and then grab a mixing bowl. "Okay," I say, opening the box, "we need three eggs," and walking to the fridge. "Which means we each can break one."
I hand an egg to Mia who I make sit on the counter on one side of the bowl and then put Emma up on the other side handing her a bowl. "Watch me," I say, cracking the egg and then putting it in the bowl. "Now your turn," I say to Mia. "Gently," I remind her and she hits the side of the bowl and the egg splashes all over her and me. I look down at the white top and laugh. "A little less this time," I suggest, cleaning up the mess and then handing her another egg. "Okay, Emma, you try." She hits the bowl perfectly and I clap my hands. "That was perfect." I look over at Mia. "Okay, your turn, gently." She smirks at me and I lean in to kiss her neck. She hits the side of the bowl and the egg falls into the bowl. Luckily the shells are intact, Emma and I both clap our hands for her. "Let me get the oil.” I put it in two cups to give them a chance to pour. Repeating the process for the water also. "Okay, here we go," I say, opening the bag of cake mix and putting it in. "Who wants to help me stir?" I turn and hand each of them a spoon, and twenty minutes later, and lots of licks of the spoon, I’m putting the tray into the oven to bake.
My phone rings and I pick it up seeing it’s Cooper. "You better be on your way," I say and he laughs.
"I’ll be home in twenty minutes, should I pick up food?" he asks.
"No, I’m making spaghetti and chocolate cupcakes.” I turn and whisper, "I will say the girls did double dip, so that’s up to you."
"You cooked?" he replies, shocked.
"Goodbye, Cooper.” I hang up the phone, turning and putting the water on for the pasta.
I clean up the kitchen while the girls watch some Disney movie. The water is boiling when the front door opens and I hear his voice.
"I’m home.” His voice fills the house and I smile looking over at the girls jumping off the couch and running to greet him. I open the pasta and put it in the salted water, grabbing a spoon and stirring it.
"Look at you." I look over my shoulder and see him walking to me. His suit fits him perfectly and something inside me settles. I turn my head back to look at the pasta before he catches me watching him. I feel him behind me when he bends his head and kisses my cheek. "It smells good," he says, and I laugh.
"Well, time will tell. I did google and this has the best reviews, so." I turn and he looks at my outfit and I look down to see the egg yolk that has crusted over.
"Daddy, Daddy," Mia calls, coming to him and holding up her arms and he picks her up. "I made cupcakes."
"Did you?" He kisses her and his whole face lights up. "Missed you guys," he says, his eyes looking at me.
"Good," I say, turning. "You can set the table."
"Okay, you two," he says, turning, “let’s set the table.” He takes off his jacket and unbuttons his sleeves and rolls them up.
"Wash your hands before." I point the spoon at him.
He laughs, coming to me and giving me a hug. "Yes, dear," he teases and I push him away. "Thank you," he says softly, standing next to me. "I don’t know what I would do without you."