Franklin shooed me outside, insisting he’d take care of our refreshments, so I took a seat on one of the rockers and leaned my head back, watching the trees through half-closed eyes for amoment. The landscape here was so different from the park, less wild somehow, although every bit as beautiful. Restful to view.
“Here we are.” Franklin’s voice cut into my thoughts. “I know dinner is coming soon, but the lemon cookies looked so pretty on the tray.”
Everything looked pretty on the tray he placed on the low table next to me. Light wood, maybe bamboo, he had set the pitcher, a small bowl of delicately half lemon slices, sugar, and two glasses beside the plate of icing-sugar glazed. Taking the seat on the other side of the table, he lifted the pitcher, ice clinking as he filled two of the three glasses he’d brought. “In case my other guest happens by and is thirsty.”
I couldn’t help but hope he would.
“Cookie?” Franklin held out the plate. “I just made them this afternoon.”
I accepted one and brought it to my nose. “They smell incredible. So citrusy and fresh.”
He nodded. “People make the mistake of only using juice in their lemon desserts sometimes. The oils and all the perfume are in the zest. Take a bite and tell me what you think.”
I bit into the cookie. Thin. Crisp. Sweet yet… “That’s not just powdered-sugar icing on top. It’s tart, too.”
“And that’s the best use of lemon juice. That is, if you like it?”
“More than like it. I’m about to spoil my dinner by gobbling the cookies all up.”
“Not if you want us to be friends.” The words came from the corner of the house, Remi appearing right after. “I heard the word cookies, and I am faint with hunger.”
“Dinner is coming soon.” Franklin stood up and took his glass with him. “Pour Remi some tea, Bowen, and you two relax until supper is ready. About twenty minutes.” He went inside, and the alpha took his empty seat while I did as our host asked.
Remi tipped the glass up and took a long drink. “That’s delicious. I’ve been walking around and certainly built up a thirst.”
“Then you probably won’t want any of the cookies after all.” I scooted the plate closer to me, but he laid his hand over mine.
I couldn’t breathe and after a silent moment, he withdrew, muttering, “I still want a cookie.”
“They are so good.” Scooting the plate toward him, I offered a gracious smile. “I’ll share.”
He laughed and then we sat, sipping tea and nibbling cookies until Franklin came out to tell us the food was ready. “And I hope you haven’t spoiled your appetites, or I shall be quite cross.”
“You’re the one who gave us the cookies,” I protested. “But I for one am still very hungry.”
“Me too.” Remi rose and reached for the tray, lifting it away from Franklin. “I’ll carry it in.
“Just leave it on the dining room sideboard,” Franklin told him. “In case we’d like a refill. Everything else is on the table, family style, so help yourselves. It’s nothing much.”
The meal was delicious, elevated pot roast with a red wine mushroom sauce and the creamiest mashed potatoes I’d ever been served. Tiny bright-green spring peas and warm rolls fresh from the oven.
Nothing much?
When Franklin carried the empty roast platter into the kitchen, I pushed back to make a little room for my very full tummy and sighed. “So good. I’m glad we already had dessert because I don’t think I could eat another bite.”
“Me too.” Remi set his knife and fork on his plate. “Let’s help clear the table.”
But before we could stand up, Franklin was back with a cake. “Triple-chocolate layer cake.” He set it on the table in front ofRemi. “I’ll be back with plates and ice cream.” And he was gone again.
We studied the cake, dark-chocolate frosting glistening in the soft light.
“I guess the cookies weren’t dessert,” Remi mused.
“And we can’t hurt his feelings,” I added.
“No, we can’t. I suppose I can manage a sliver.”
In the end, we both “managed” a hearty slab of tender cake with ganache and a cream filling speckled with mini bittersweet chips. Franklin came and went from the kitchen, turning down help each time, and finally, exhausted by a long day and way more food than was good for us, Remi and I decided to call it a night.
