THE HOUSE ETHAN COLE BUILT FOR TWO
Chapter 8
The next morning, Ethan woke to the smell of toast burning.
He ran downstairs.
Smoke filled the kitchen.
Lily stood near the toaster.
“I think it’s broken.”
Ethan opened a window.
“You put it on the highest setting.”
She looked at the dial.
“Oh.”
Ethan laughed.
“You don’t have to cook.”
“I wanted breakfast.”
“I can make it.”
“I can help.”
Ethan looked at her.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
They started again.
This time, Ethan showed her how the toaster worked.
Then how to crack an egg.
She cracked it badly.
Shells fell into the bowl.
Ethan picked them out.
“Almost.”
Lily smiled.
“Almost.”
They made scrambled eggs.
The eggs were too salty.
The toast was slightly burned.
The coffee was terrible.
But they ate everything.
Lily looked across the table.
“This is good.”
Ethan took another bite.
“Yeah.”
It wasn’t.
But he understood.
It wasn’t about the food.
