“Good.I know it won’t be too different from his RV, but it’ll feel more permanent, and I love that.”I opened the refrigerator to check ingredients.I had rolls I could heat for dinner tomorrow night, but I also had an idea for something I wanted to make for dessert.
Thought of Bracken’s new place had me slamming the refrigerator door and spinning toward Declan.“I have an idea.”
He sat at the table.“Let’s hear it.”
“You know that corner room I had the contractor make me in the gallery?”
“Sure,” he said.“Your readings room.”
“Yes.”I went back in and started pulling ingredients out of the refrigerator.
He held up his hand.“Wait.What are you doing?I thought we were going to bed.”
I glanced up at the clock.He was right.It was late.“You should go sleep.I’m wide awake.I’ll get the first part of tomorrow night’s dessert done tonight.I’ll make the dough, let it rise, then chill it overnight.”I opened a drawer and grabbed a pair of thin rubber gloves, pulling them over my regular gloves.I did a quick cleaning spell on the island, though it was already spotless.
“About the room.I haven’t been giving readings like I used to.It’s been too busy.I’d thought I’d need to keep doing them in order to make ends meet, but I don’t.So, I was thinking about repurposing that room.”
I got to work making a croissant dough while Declan watched.The key to a good croissant?Lots of butter and perfect lamination.
“What do you want to use the room for now?”he asked.
In between measuring ingredients, I explained.“A transition between Bracken’s place and the gallery.We put a door in the outside wall, so Bracken can walk in whenever he wants.The corner room will be a nursery and later a playroom.We can have them install a half bath in the corner.A wet bar area with a small refrigerator.A changing table and crib.Then she’s right there.I can sneak off the floor to feed her or play with her, but it’s also connected to Bracken’s place, so he can be with her or take her into his apartment.”
I turned off the stand mixer.“Damn it.I wasn’t paying attention.Did I add sugar?”
Declan rolled with the subject change.“I believe so,” he said.“I smelled sugar when you opened that canister on the left.”
“Good enough.So, what do you think?”I put the dough in the proofing drawer, set a timer on my phone, then started cleaning up.I had three hours until the next step.
“I love the idea,” he said.“I need to make two cribs and two changing tables.”Grinning, he added, “I’ll enjoy designing those.”
A wave of exhaustion hit me.“I’ve changed my mind,” I told him.“Let’s go to bed.My second wind has left me.I’ll get up in three hours.The next step is super fast and easy.After that, it’ll need more time to rise, during which I can hopefully go back to sleep.”
And that was what we did.I actually slept most of the night, which was wonderful.In the morning, I did the lamination while Declan made us breakfast.I put the dough in the refrigerator to chill, then went to the table, where he was waiting for me with scrambled eggs and sausages.
Unfortunately, the smell of the food made my stomach roll and my mouth sour.I dashed to the bathroom.At least my hair was already tied up for a day working in the hot shop.After getting sick and brushing my teeth, I headed back, feeling a little more steady.
When I walked back in the kitchen, Declan was looking through the refrigerator.“Would something else be better on your stomach?Maybe some yogurt and fruit?”
I went to him and hugged him far longer than the question warranted.“How’d I get so lucky?”Patting his chest, I said, “Breakfast looks great.Bracken gave me some drops to help with morning sickness.I’ll put them in my juice and I should be fine.”I took the little vial my great-uncle had given me from the cupboard and brought it back to the table, putting two drops into the cranberry juice Declan had poured.
As we started to eat, Declan said, “I think I’ll have four chairs done by tonight.The other five of us will need to use folding chairs.”
I counted off on my fingers.“Mom, Bracken, Elizabeth, and Hester.”
He nodded.“I have the tri-tip marinating in the fridge.I’ll take care of the zucchini and peppers.Do you need help with the potatoes?”
I shook my head.“I need to make the filling for the spiral croissants, but that won’t take long.I won’t bake them until we’re finishing dinner.As for the potatoes, I was thinking about cubing and baking them with rosemary, oil, and salt.Nothing fancy.”
He nodded.“I think we’re good then.”He finished his plate and asked, “What are you working on today?You said too many octopuses in a row make you crazy.”
Grinning, I swallowed a bite of eggs.“It’s a surprise.One I can hopefully get done before tonight.”
TWENTY-SIX
No no no no no no no no
Declan drove me to the gallery shortly after breakfast.As he dropped me off, I saw a text from Bracken.
