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“What’s cooking sweetheart?”
“Ossobuco.”
I leaned over his shoulder while he basted the browned beef with a rich onion gravy. It smelled decadent, looked divine, and got me salivating.
“Ossobuco is a long, slow braise, honey. What have you been up to in between food prep and now?”
“Nothing gets past you, Amy.”
“You were at the office when I called. I worry about you the same way you do about me.”
He set my plate in front of me, and while I enjoyed the twilight view from his kitchen window, Victor returned to fetch his. Two glasses of sparkling water with ice and lemon would become our new normal, with pregnancy now ruling the day.
Candles flickered gently across a brilliant white linen tablecloth, glinting off the silver service cutlery and oversized porcelain plates. The center of each plate was the culinary stage for a beautiful, melting beef dish with tiny onions, gravy, and al dente carrots with tenderstem broccoli stalks.
“You were there, at the church today.”
“Yes.”
“I felt your presence.”
“I came alone. Kasimir was outside, and he didn’t know I was there. Rania didn’t know either. I stayed in the shadows, just in case.”
“Why?”
I reached across the table, clenching his hand. Victor’s fingers trembled, and I saw raw emotion, not quite amounting to a threat of tears welling in his eyes while his expression flickered on the edge of losing control.
“What is it, Victor?”
“I will always follow and protect you, Amy. My love for you will keep following, even when I am gone. I couldn’t stand by when danger was possible.”