Lib Novel Page 70
“Jared is from a big family,” Sylvester told her wisely. “He didn’t even think about changing his recipe, so we’d better be hungry.”
She smiled up at the big man in the cute apron, knowing Sylvester was repeating back his words to her. The idea that he didn’t know how to make pancakes for less than an army was endearing.
All this time, she’d been thinking of him as an impulsive, single man. But with all those siblings, he was probably more of a family man than most men she knew.
“Worried you’re not hungry enough?” Jared asked, quirking an eyebrow.
That sent Sylvester into another spiral of giggling that told her he was more than just happy, he was relaxed.
“No worries there,” she said with a smile. “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse, or at least a pony.”
As she knew it would, that made Sylvester giggle even more.
“Can I help out with the dishes while you two finish up?” she asked.
“You’re not supposed to cook,” Sylvester said, popping up from his laugh.
“Dishes don’t count,” she told him. “I’m really just keeping you company.”
“What do you think?” Jared asked Sylvester.
“I think it’s good,” Sylvester decided.
“It’s good then,” Jared told her with a wink and a warm smile.
For all their noise and fun, they had done a pretty good job keeping the kitchen clean. She would have to do a quick sweep for flour, but she couldn’t help noticing the counter where they had made the batter was already wiped down and the big bowl and fork were already washed and in the drain board.
“Okay, are you ready to flip it?” Jared asked Sylvester. “It’s the last one.”
“I don’t know,” Sylvester said. “I had a little trouble with the other ones.”
“That’s how you learn,” Jared told him. “My first time helping my dad make pancakes, I flipped one so hard it stuck on the ceiling.”
“You did?” Sylvester asked, breathless with wonder at such a funny idea.
“My mom came in with a broom to knock it off the ceiling and yell at me for being too rough,” he said fondly. “It fell on her head just when she was telling me not to clown around. It looked like a funny hat.”
Sylvester covered his mouth, but his eyes were merry.
“Thankfully, my mom has a really good sense of humor,” Jared said, shaking his head. “She laughed harder than anyone.”
“I’ll try flipping it,” Sylvester decided.
Cora couldn’t help turning to watch.
“Now do it firmly and quickly,” Jared told him. “But not so firmly that it goes on the ceiling.”
They all watched him slide the spatula under the pancake. The top was a perfect circle of bubbles, and Cora could envision the mess it would make on the floor, but found that she didn’t really care.
Sylvester gave it a firm flip, but instead of landing perfectly in the canter, it landed half in the pan and half on Jared’s hand.
“Oh, no,” Sylvester said worriedly.
“He’s trying to get away,” Jared said, pretending to be scandalized. “Not on my watch, pancake.”
In a single, practiced twist of his wrist, he sent the wayward pancake into the center of the pan, where it landed with a sizzle.
“Not on my watch, pancake,” Sylvester echoed in delight, laughing his head off at his own borrowed quip.