joy once again. Just looking at her made Leopold feel oddly comforted. “It smells fantastic. What’ve you made?” She came close enough to the stove for him to smell her own delicious aroma.
Leo gripped the wooden spoon, and trying to keep an even tone, he replied, “I just adapted the recipe in the book, to use up the vegetables you’d chopped. I’ve renamed the dish ‘Post-Tsunami Pasta’; what do you think?”
Cat gave a contagious laugh, and he was forced to smile. “You’re a real gem, Leo. Turns out that Alison’s a lucky woman after all.”
“Let’s not start,” he warned sternly.
“Of course not, dear neighbor. Do you really think that after all the work you’ve done I’d pick a fight with you? I’m eternally grateful for this evening, Leo, and if you should ever need my help, you can count on it.” Cat stood on tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek. She opened the fridge, took out the bottle that Leopold had brought, uncorked it, and poured two glasses, handing one to him. “To the magnificent cook!” she toasted with an affectionate smile on her lips.
“And to his scatterbrained neighbor!” said Leopold, clinking his glass against hers, still feeling a slight tingle on his cheek.
“I’ll set the table. That’s one thing I can do.” Catalina rushed out of the kitchen.
As he carried the bowl of pasta out to the living room, Leo understood what she’d meant. The room was dimly lit, the golden glow of the fire and a few strategically placed candles the only light. Rather than laying everything out on the giant dining-room table, Cat had placed a smaller table near the hearth, though not so close that the heat would be unpleasant. She’d used one of her uncle’s best tablecloths, along with his finest dishes and glassware. The silver cutlery sparkled, and a pair of tiny glass vases with a single flower in each decorated the table. It was as if they were about to dine in an enchanted palace.
“A beautiful mise-en-scène ,” he said in his deep voice.
“Don’t you think?” Cat surveyed her work with satisfaction.
“One of the loveliest I’ve ever seen. You could do it professionally.”
“At first, I worried it might be a bit over the top. I didn’t want you to think I was planning a romantic evening, intending to seduce you over dessert.” She winked wickedly at him. “But then I decided that after all you’ve done this evening, you deserve the very best.”
“I’m much obliged, mademoiselle .” Still holding the bowl of pasta, Leopold gave her an elegant bow.
“I’ll bring some water and bread,” Cat said, and when she returned, she refilled her neighbor’s glass with wine. “Sit down. I’ll take over from here.”
Catalina sat opposite him, dishing him a sizeable plate of pasta before serving herself, then expectantly put a forkful in her mouth. “Mmm, delicious.” Cat savored the combination of flavors with her eyes closed, making Leopold feel absurdly proud.
In spite of Leopold’s fears, supper was a success. They chatted about various subjects, and, though in many cases their opinions were far from similar, their conversation was animated. He enjoyed the novel experience of talking to a woman without worrying about impressing her, and he thought that Catalina, when she wasn’t trying to annoy him, was vivacious and charming. The idea of being friends with her appealed to him; he’d never had a female friend.
“I have some great news,” she suddenly announced.
“Oh?” He had to blink to avoid being dazzled by the golden radiance in her eyes.
“An anonymous patron bought Peter’s painting. Do you know how much they paid for it?” she asked with her mouth full, waving her fork and knife around.
“No idea.” Leopold thought of the canvas that hung on one of his bedroom walls.
“Enough to renovate the building and still have a bit left over for other projects.” His neighbor shone with enthusiasm.
“Gosh, that’s
Leo gripped the wooden spoon, and trying to keep an even tone, he replied, “I just adapted the recipe in the book, to use up the vegetables you’d chopped. I’ve renamed the dish ‘Post-Tsunami Pasta’; what do you think?”
Cat gave a contagious laugh, and he was forced to smile. “You’re a real gem, Leo. Turns out that Alison’s a lucky woman after all.”
“Let’s not start,” he warned sternly.
“Of course not, dear neighbor. Do you really think that after all the work you’ve done I’d pick a fight with you? I’m eternally grateful for this evening, Leo, and if you should ever need my help, you can count on it.” Cat stood on tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek. She opened the fridge, took out the bottle that Leopold had brought, uncorked it, and poured two glasses, handing one to him. “To the magnificent cook!” she toasted with an affectionate smile on her lips.
“And to his scatterbrained neighbor!” said Leopold, clinking his glass against hers, still feeling a slight tingle on his cheek.
“I’ll set the table. That’s one thing I can do.” Catalina rushed out of the kitchen.
As he carried the bowl of pasta out to the living room, Leo understood what she’d meant. The room was dimly lit, the golden glow of the fire and a few strategically placed candles the only light. Rather than laying everything out on the giant dining-room table, Cat had placed a smaller table near the hearth, though not so close that the heat would be unpleasant. She’d used one of her uncle’s best tablecloths, along with his finest dishes and glassware. The silver cutlery sparkled, and a pair of tiny glass vases with a single flower in each decorated the table. It was as if they were about to dine in an enchanted palace.
“A beautiful mise-en-scène ,” he said in his deep voice.
“Don’t you think?” Cat surveyed her work with satisfaction.
“One of the loveliest I’ve ever seen. You could do it professionally.”
“At first, I worried it might be a bit over the top. I didn’t want you to think I was planning a romantic evening, intending to seduce you over dessert.” She winked wickedly at him. “But then I decided that after all you’ve done this evening, you deserve the very best.”
“I’m much obliged, mademoiselle .” Still holding the bowl of pasta, Leopold gave her an elegant bow.
“I’ll bring some water and bread,” Cat said, and when she returned, she refilled her neighbor’s glass with wine. “Sit down. I’ll take over from here.”
Catalina sat opposite him, dishing him a sizeable plate of pasta before serving herself, then expectantly put a forkful in her mouth. “Mmm, delicious.” Cat savored the combination of flavors with her eyes closed, making Leopold feel absurdly proud.
In spite of Leopold’s fears, supper was a success. They chatted about various subjects, and, though in many cases their opinions were far from similar, their conversation was animated. He enjoyed the novel experience of talking to a woman without worrying about impressing her, and he thought that Catalina, when she wasn’t trying to annoy him, was vivacious and charming. The idea of being friends with her appealed to him; he’d never had a female friend.
“I have some great news,” she suddenly announced.
“Oh?” He had to blink to avoid being dazzled by the golden radiance in her eyes.
“An anonymous patron bought Peter’s painting. Do you know how much they paid for it?” she asked with her mouth full, waving her fork and knife around.
“No idea.” Leopold thought of the canvas that hung on one of his bedroom walls.
“Enough to renovate the building and still have a bit left over for other projects.” His neighbor shone with enthusiasm.
“Gosh, that’s
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