Page 70 of Love Limits

Daddy seemed to think they were cute, so after that, they didn’t even try to hold back. They skipped ahead of Daddy, making the chicken sign with their finger and thumb as a beak.

Are you being a chicken or do you want to eat a chicken?

Want to eat the chicken. But it was such a funny sign to use over and over again.

Zhong laughed, but he still told them to wash their hands. Something about the gentle command made the last little bit of Ash’s doubts float away. Daddy knew just what to do.

When their hands were dry, Ash slid into their usual chair at the island. They kicked their legs back and forth while Daddy washed his own hands and started taking out ingredients. He opened a bag of frozen corn, poured some into a bowl, and set it in front of Ash. Then he went back to grown up cooking things.

The pieces were so inviting, round and golden yellow. Ash reached out. They were thrillingly cold to the touch.

Well, that meant they would have to arrange them fast before their fingers got icy. They popped a few pieces into their mouth and munched on them. Not quite ice cream, but pretty close.

They were working on making a sun with swirling waves of happiness coming out when another bowl appeared with cute little carrots cut into matchstick pieces. They knew just where they wanted to put them.

A third bowl appeared later with blueberries. Those didn’t usually go with corn and carrots, but they tasted them anyway. Oh! The blueberries and corn were pretty good together! The carrots, not so much. Too much crunchy and squishy and not at all the right flavor. They made a face.

When they looked up, Daddy was laughing at them indulgently. I gave you blueberries because I need to cook the carrots soon. You’re not supposed to eat them together.

Well, you didn’t say that. Can I save these ones? They gestured to the ones already on the counter. They were the music that the sun was singing.

Sure.

They went back to work. The sun was singing to the water, and the water was dancing in waves.

By the time the blueberries were all gone, the corn bowl had mysteriously disappeared but the kitchen smelled like chicken yumminess.

Take my picture! Ash demanded.

Kind words, Daddy admonished.

Please take my picture?

Daddy took out his phone and snapped a few photos. It’s beautiful, Daddy praised. He walked around the counter and kissed them on the head. And you are, too.

Ash snuggled against his chest for a moment. But their belly was extra rumbly now. Chicken?

Zhong made his own chicken beak and snapped back at Ash playfully until it evolved into a pecking war of pinching fingers in front of grinning mouths. Daddy looked silly with his eyes so close and his beak trying to snatch them.

When they almost fell over, Daddy pulled them back upright and they sighed against his shoulder.

Once he was sure they were safe, Daddy ran over to the stove to turn everything off. What should we do with your masterpiece?

Eat it. Obviously.

You wouldn’t rather eat warm corn and carrots cooked into the sauce?

They shook their head. This was much more fun.

Daddy sort of shrugged, and then came over with two plates. His had the chicken and sauce on top of the rice, with the corn on the side, but Ash’s had everything separate. That was perfect, because then Ash could put it into the picture.

The second Daddy put their plate down, Ash reached for it, but Daddy caught their hand. They looked up at him.

The sauce doesn’t go in the picture. It’s for dipping.

Hey! They weren’t going to put the sauce all over the counter. That would be messy. Although, if they could just pour a little swirl of it by…

Daddy tapped their shoulder. The sauce is for dipping. Not fingers. Not the counter. OK?