“You want to walk, or would you rather me mist you home?” Lily asked.
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather walk. Allows us to get a little more familiar with our surroundings,” Avaleigh said.
“I was thinking the same thing, but didn’t want to assume,” Lily said. She looped her arm through Avaleigh’s and together they led the way, allowing Carrik and Daniel to bring up the rear. “So, I hear your cooking can’t be matched. Maybe you won’t mind sharing a few recipes while you’re here. I’ve been told Lasagna is one of your specialties,” Lily said.
Avaleigh laughed. “I’d love to show you my recipes. I make a fantastic bread pudding, too.”
“Don’t let her fool you. Everything she makes is fantastic,” Daniel said.
“I can see a little cooking in our future,” Lily said.
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a great cook, too,” Carrik said.
“Yes, but Italian throws me off my game,” Lily said. She leaned toward Avaleigh and whispered quietly. “I usually just mist in Italian food when I want it.”
Avaleigh laughed. “I’ll show you how to make it yourself. You’ll be the Italian food master.”
“I’m so looking forward to it. Most wouldn’t understand, but I try to do as much myself as I can these days, rather than using my magics for everything. I get so bored if I just set things as I want them in a matter of seconds and have so much time leftover.”
“I never thought of it, but I can certainly understand it. It’s not like you have a television, or can get in a car and go shopping or something,” Avaleigh said.
“Exactly. I’m not against my magic, but I’ve realized I enjoy doing the fun things like cooking, or party planning myself — hands on.”
~~~
Boon and Angelle stood alone in the kitchen.
Angelle looked around the kitchen and the family room that had just moments before been so full of activity. “Guess I should get this place back in order.”
“I’ll help,” he said.
“No, it’s not much. I’ll take care of it.”
“Okay.” He watched her as she cleaned the countertops and placed the leftover cinnamon rolls on a glass cake plate andcovered them with the matching glass dome. She was setting the teacups on a dish towel to dry when he finally spoke again.
“I like seeing you at home in your kitchen.”
“I like being here. It feels right.”
“So, what’s next now that we’re alone?”
“I don’t know. But I think maybe we should light some candles or something, or we’ll be bouncing off the furniture soon.”
Boon laughed. “It does get really, really dark out here, but I don’t think much about it.” He tapped his face next to his eyes. “I can see at night.”
“Oh, how lucky! It’s one of the things I’ve always envied my cousins of having the ability to do. I can’t see anything in the dark.”
“Do you know how to light the hurricane lamps?” he asked.
“Kind of, but it’s been a while.”
“Let me show you.” He took the box of matches from the kitchen then they walked around the house, lighting the hurricane lamps placed here and there in each room. It didn’t take long before a warm glow lit up every room of the house. “We don’t always have to light them all, but I thought it would be nice to do so tonight.”
“I like it. Would it be terrible if I did it often?” she asked.
“We can do it every night it you want to.”
“I feel kind of awkward,” she confessed.
