"How many kilometers out of the way?"
"Not many." He said seriously. "A hundred or so."
I couldn't help but laugh.
He laughed too.
That smile—gentle, harmless, the most ordinary and warmest sight I'd seen in five years.
"Stay for dinner?" I asked.
He froze, then his eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Just kidding." I turned toward the back kitchen. "Leo, go wash your hands."
Leo cheered, dropped his crayons and ran to the back.
Sebastian stood there, looking at me, his expression complicated.
"What?" I looked back at him.
"Nothing." He followed me inside. "It's just... this is the first time you've invited me to stay for dinner."
My hand paused.
Was it?
I guess so.
He'd come many times these five years, but I always made excuses—the shop was busy, Leo needed to sleep early, maybe next time. I didn't believe those excuses myself, but he never pressed, just nodded and said, "Okay, next time."
"I'm in a good mood today," I said without turning around. "Ella just left."
"She still comes every quarter?"
"Yeah."
"That's nice," he said. "Having a friend like that."
I said nothing.
The kitchen was tiny, barely room for two people to turn around. Leo had already climbed onto his special stool, sitting nicely waiting for food. I opened the fridge—still had vegetables from yesterday and a little meat.
"Something simple?" I asked Sebastian.
"Anything's fine."
I nodded, started cooking.
He leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching me. Leo chattered away about how Ella came, what presents she brought, how his drawing got praised. Sebastian listened carefully, asking a question or two, like a real uncle who cared about this child.
When the food was ready, the three of us squeezed around that little table.
Leo sat in the middle, me on the left, Sebastian on the right. He'd tell me one dish was delicious, then turn to tell Sebastian about something at school, busy as could be.
I watched him, a strange feeling rising in my chest.
