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“Me?”
I can only shake my head at her response. “You’re the only other one who has tried it. You know what they are supposed to taste like.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Wait, he’s cooked for you before?” Jade asked as I made my way back to the stove.
“Oh yeah. Logan wasn’t only the star recruit for the hockey team, he was also talented in the kitchen,” Stephanie bragged while I stirred the sauce.
“Really?”
“I was fortunate enough to be invited to Sunday night dinners at least every other weekend while Logan and I studied.”
Hearing the way Stephanie talked about Sunday dinners brought a warmth to me I hadn’t felt in some time.
“You two spent a lot of time together, huh?”Jade asked.
It wasn’t like that for us back then. It felt more like hanging out, but now that I look back on it, maybe we did.
“Sunday dinners at the Petersen’s were the best. Hands down the best cooking I’ve ever experienced,” she said. “Just don’t repeat that in front of mom,” she added, as a huffed laugh escaped my throat.
“How’s that sauce coming?” Stephanie called out, breaking my concentration.
Scooping some of the sauce from the pan, I brought the wooden spoon toward Stephanie’s lips. “Be careful, it’s hot.”
Blowing on it before she took a taste, she allowed the sauce to settle on her palate before her eyes wandered toward my ingredients.
“I think you might need to add a little more Worcestershire sauce,” she advised, doing a funny voice when she said the name.
Of course. Worcestershire sauce.
Adding a few more splashes, I mixed the sauce again and did a taste test for myself. Transported back in time, it tasted exactly the way Opa used to make it.
“I take it, I was right?”
“It’s perfect. Here, taste it,” I said, bringing her another sample.
Watching Stephanie taste test my cooking was such a simple and pleasurable act, but it was an act I’d hope to see more of in the future.
“Oh, wow. You did it, it's perfect.”
Jade’s brow quirked. “Well, now I want to try.”
I laughed on my way back to the stove. “Well, you’re just in luck then. I think we’re ready,” I announced, stirring the sauce one last time.
Plating the food, I watched as everyone tasted Opa’s family recipe. Twirling her fork around in her pasta, Stephanie pulled her lower lip between her teeth before she took another bite. Smiling from her seat, the satisfaction of a job well done showed on her face as she polished off her first helping.
“Is there any more?” Andre asked first, and the room erupted with laughter.
“Are you kidding me? Germans love to eat. This recipe could feed an army, of course there’s more,” I said with enthusiasm.
“I’ll take another plate too,” Stephanie said. “I’ve missed your cooking.”
And I’ve missed you.
Stephanie’s eyes caught mine from across the counter and she realized I’d been watching her.
“Well, this meal is amazing,” Jade said, around a bite of food. “Who taught you how to cook?”
