‘Hey, Molly,’ he said.
Startled, I let out a yelp that sent Cleo running out of the room and through the cat flap.
‘You just about gave me a heart attack!’ I said, when I’d recovered.
‘Thinking about cooking a romantic, candlelit dinner in the Italian countryside?’ Noah suggested, peering over my shoulder at the rustic scene in the cookbook I had open.
My ring sparked against my skin, and I swallowed. I thought about how Josephine’s diary had flipped open, and I wondered what she’d wanted to share with me. Assuming that was the case at all. Itmighthave just been a convenient gust of wind. But a gust of wind that didn’t say anything? Here, in Whisperwind Cove? Unlikely.
‘I’ve volunteered to cook dinner tonight,’ I told him. ‘I figured that Rosie could do with the night off. She’s been working herself to the bone.’
Noah helped himself to a cherry tomato from the bowl on the counter. ‘Ah, so that’s why she and Amelia ran off giggling down the garden path.’
‘That would be it.’
‘So, what are you thinking for the menu? Pizza delivery?’
‘Oh shush.’ I put my hands on my hips in indignation. ‘Wecouldmake pizzas. We have the wood-fired oven.’
‘We, huh?’ Noah considered. ‘Well, I do have the night free.’
‘Oh shit!’ I whacked my hand against my forehead, remembering that I’d promised Finn we’d go out tonight.
‘Youhave the night free, but I don’t,’ I explained. ‘I promised Finn …’
Noah waited for me to go on.
‘I’m sure he won’t mind,’ I said eventually. ‘Not if it’s for Rosie.’
Besides, we hadn’t really made plans beyond keeping the evening free. And it was Finn, after all. He was as easy-going as they came.
‘All right,’ said Noah slowly. ‘If you’re sure.’
I nodded. I’d text Finn in a minute just in case. ‘So, pizza?’
‘I think Mom has pizza on the menu for our outdoor movie night. What else is on your shortlist?’
I bit my lip. ‘It’s actually more of a longlist.’
I shoved over the stack of recipe books I’d been working through.
‘I see,’ said Noah, who was practically obscured behind the huge stack. ‘Which ones are the main contenders?’
‘Zucchini orzo? Root vegetable lasagne? What about curry? We could do a beef curry with roti canai.’ I tapped my chin, thinking about all the delicious meals we’d shared together over the years. ‘Pad Thai? Chicken pot pie? Falafel and shawarma?’
All right, so now I was just listing foods I liked.
Noah gently moved my hand away from the cookbooksand gave me a solemn look. ‘Molly, I mean this with love, but we absolutely cannot leave the menu up to you.’
I probably should’ve been offended, but all I could think about was the fact that Noah had saidwith love.
‘I’ve seen you trying to choose between Coke Zero and Diet Coke. You’re a disaster.’
‘But they have different tastes!’ I protested. ‘I’ll do a blindfold test to show you.’
‘Absolutely not.’ He considered, then flipped back through one of the cookbooks. ‘But I think you’re on to something with the falafel. We could do dips, flatbreads, lots of salads and roasted chickpeas. Mom loves light, fresh dishes, and Amelia’s obsessed with nicely arranged things on platters, so she’ll definitely be in.’
‘Momdoeslove a good platter,’ I agreed.
