“Porridge would be lovely,” Arthur replied.
“Brown sugar?”
Arthur smiled. “Thank you.”
After Gertrude returned to the kitchen, Jesse let out a long, forceful exhale.
“See?” Arthur said, feigning confidence. “I justkneweverything would be fine.”
“Did you now?” Charlotte asked, raising one incredulous eyebrow, a teasing lilt in her tone.
Arthur held a finger to his lips, shushing her, though he couldn’t help but smile a bit. Charlotte laughed lightly before reaching for her teacup. Arthur tapped Jesse’s foot with his own.
“We’re safe, Jesse,” he said calmly, pausing to pour a splash of cream into his morning beverage. “I promise.”
His words hung between them for a few long seconds.
“Thank you,” Jesse finally said, though his voice was small and wrought with uncertainty.
It pained Arthur to hear it. He thought that maybe he ought to shift the conversation to something else. Something happier.
Arthur racked his brain for topics as he took a sip of his coffee. But it was hard to think straight so soon after waking, especially since he and Jesse had stayed up late into the night. Arthur brought the mug to his lips for another sip, and when he lowered it, his eyes met Emma’s. She was still wearing that little teasing smile of hers. Arthur rolled his eyes at her. She rolled hers back. Mockingly. Oh, what a treasure she was! Even though she was still very likely feeling hurt over the way that Arthur had reacted to hearing her hopes for her future, she was being very kind about his relationship with Jesse.
Arthur took another sip of his coffee. Perhaps Emma should be rewarded for her maturity somehow. Arthur began to strum his fingers on the table as he wondered how he could ever repay her for being so lovely about it. Soon, an idea popped into his head. She wanted to visit the fair, didn’t she? Maybe that was something.
“Emma?” he said. “Do you still want to see the Woman’s Building at the World’s Columbian Exposition?”
“You know I do,” she replied.
“Well, what if I took you sometime in the next few weekends? Would you like that?”
Emma’s eyes bulged. “Of course I would!”
“Alright then we’ll go.”
Emma clapped her hands together and squealed. Arthur and Charlotte chuckled.
Gertrude brought out Arthur’s and Jesse’s porridge, and they then both began to eat. After a few bites, Arthur looked over at Jesse and smiled, fondness swirling in his chest. God, how he loved this wonderful man. Emboldened by everyone’s unexpected acceptance, Arthur stretched out his leg and began playing with Jesse’s foot, tapping it and rubbing it sweetly with his own. Jesse’s cheeks flushed slightly, and Arthur felt heat rising to his face, too. Both of them continued to munch on their porridge while intermittently playing with each other’s feet.
Emma suddenly pushed herself to stand. “May I be excused?”
Arthur set his spoon back in the bowl and crooked an eyebrow.
“It’s more proper to askbeforeyou’ve stood up, but yes, you may,” Arthur said.
Emma’s fast footsteps echoed in the hall as she walked toward the stairs. After they faded, Charlotte threw Arthur an impish look, one of her eyebrows slightly raised, her lips curled to form a small smirk.
“You know why she asked to leave, right?” she asked.
Arthur shook his head. Charlotte made a sound in between a scoff and a sigh.
“Arthur, no one wants to watch their father flirting at the breakfast table.”
Arthur burst out laughing, unlinking his and Jesse’s feet, and Jesse’s face turned the shade of Arthur’s favorite wine.
Chapter Twenty
Arthur
