Chapter 23

In the kitchen, Emily carefully pulled a sponge cake from the oven. The scent of vanilla and sugar filled the air. Arthur stood at the stove, pan-searing steaks to a perfect medium rare. Keith sat chatting comfortably with Teresa in the garden. At the sound of movement from the kitchen, he got up and walked inside. "Need a hand?" he asked, his voice low and tinged with amusement. Since their interview, their relationship had officially blossomed into something more. Upon hearing the news, Arthur and Teresa were delighted and warmly invited Keith—once the persistent admirer waiting beneath their daughters' window—to their home for dinner. "There's no need." Arthur chuckled. "You go sit and relax." But as he caught the way Keith looked at Emily—with a soft, almost reverent gaze—he smiled helplessly. "Though, if you'd rather stay and talk to Emmy, I'll leave you to it." With that, he carried the finished steaks out to the dining room, leaving the couple alone. Emily watched