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“Cooking changes how food looks.”

“Why?”

“Science.”

“Why?”

“Ask Daddy.”

Theo whips around. “Daddy, why?”

Simon doesn’t even try. “Because Mommy said so.”

I smile up at him. “Coward.”

He shrugs, smirking.

Theo decides I’m no longer interesting now that there’s nothing left to smash. Helping Simon cut the eggs looks better. “I help Daddy.”

Simon tugs Theo’s stool over.

“I cut?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because the knife is sharp.”

“I can do it. I’m safe.”

“I know you can.” Simon kisses the top of his head. “But Daddy’s doing this part.”

Something about the way he says it gets me. I never would have taken myself for the type to have a daddy kink. Maybe it’s how effortless he is with Theo. Maybe it’s that we still haven’t had sex in days. Maybe it’s that he’s shirtless, sweatpants hanging low enough that I can see the very top sliver of my name on his pelvis.

Simon halves the eggs and hands each one to Theo, showing him how to scoop the yolks into the bowl.

Theo takes the job with deadly seriousness. The concentration on his face is Simon’s exactly: the same little crinkle in his nose, the same right dimple peeking through.

I turn back to the casserole before either of them can see how stupidly emotional I’ve gotten. I’ve dreamed of this for years. Even when I thought it would never happen. Even when I thought Simon felt nothing for me and was only around for Theo.

I finish mixing and slide the dish toward him. “Okay, menace. You can put the onions on now.”

His whole face lights up. He grabs the bag and dumps the entire thing into the middle.

A mountain of fried onions rises from the casserole.

Theo sets down the empty bag, proud. “Perfect.”

Simon presses his lips together.

I last about two seconds before I start laughing. “It’s beautiful, baby. Great job.”

“Mimi is going to love it,” Simon says, trying and failing to hold his own laughter in.

The casserole goes in the fridge, the eggs follow. Everything ready to be finished up at my parent tomorrow. I lean my hip against the counter, watching Simon wipe onion crumbs into his palm while Theo “helps” by spreading them farther across the granite.

By the time the kitchen is mostly clean, the light through the window has gone gold, then gray. The house smells like green beans, fried onions, and eggs.