She hugs me back, squeezing tight around my waist.
“Fine, fine,” she says, raising a hand in mock surrender. “But the record should state I know what the right decision is.”
I chuckle. “Yes, yes, I know.” I pause, picking up my spoon. “Now… why don’t we sneak a little brigadeiro?” My mischievous eyes meet hers, and her grin blooms like sunlight.
We dig in, chocolate melting across our tongues. “Everything feels better with a brigadeiro in your mouth,” Gabby declares, a small moan of delight punctuating her words.
“I have to hand it to you, sis… yours are amazing,” I say between bites. Each chocolate ball is sticky, rich, and addictive.
These little chocolate balls areaddictive.
“I’ve perfected them while you were gone,” she shrugs, casual.
“Anything else I’m missing out on?” The thought of her baking makes my mouth water.
“Ah, this and that.” She shoots me a playful look.
“Oh, come on,” I whine, matching her mock indignation.
“Ah, ah, ah,” she warns, finger wagging. “Once I get the full story on Nate, then we can talk about what else you’re missing.”
I roll my eyes, laughing. “Fine. Let’s finish these before we eat them all ourselves.”
“I think I prefer we consume them entirely,” she says with a gleam. “Means more for us.”
“Always room for more bakes,” I tease, rolling another ball in the sprinkles.
“Indeed.” She smiles, and together we lose ourselves in the rhythm: roll, sprinkle, liner, repeat.
Even with the playful chatter, I can’t help sneaking glances toward the other room, imagining Nate just steps away. The hum of the refrigerator, the faint clink of silverware—every ordinary sound is layered with possibility. The conversation we’ll have later feels alive, charged, and I feel it thrumming in my chest.
I don’t know exactly how it will go with Nate later, but none of the nerves linger here, in this kitchen. Hanging out with my sister, laughing, sneaking bites of chocolate… it’s a perfect pause. I trust that what God placed on my heart will line up with what He’s placed on his.
19
Nate
I had a great chat with Marc and Gleide while Lizzie and Gabby went off to finish the dessert.
We talked through everything I’d been planning, and I feel more solid about the next steps now. Their advice, their support… it’s invaluable. Having their perspective gives me the confidence I need to move forward.
By the time the girls returned, we’d already shifted onto lighter conversation, laughter filling the spaces between words.
Lizzie walked in first, a plate of chocolate balls in her hand, and smiled at me like sunlight through a window. That smile—honestly, it could make the darkest day seem golden.
We continue talking over dessert, letting the rich chocolate melt slowly on our tongues.
“Gabby, these are delicious,” Gleide says, her voice warm. “They melt in your mouth—perfect consistency.”
“I perfected the recipe recently,” Gabby says, shrugging as she pops one into her mouth.
“It’s just incredible,” Gleide adds, reaching for another.
The praise bounces around the table, light and easy, like music filling the room. I watch Lizzie laugh at Gabby’s playful eye-rolls, and it makes my chest ache in that good, sharp way—anticipation, excitement, nerves, all tangled together.
Once we’ve finished, Lizzie and Gleide begin clearing the table. Gabby moves to help, but Gleide stops her.
“You made the dessert. You can enjoy a day off from dishes and tidying up.”
