Chapter 6 - Five StarsSix months later.
The morning sun over the Pacific Northwest was warm, bright, and completely untainted by shadows.
The kitchen of the new house on Cedar Street—the one Adrian had bought after selling the old property—smelled of melted butter, scorched toast, and sweet vanilla batter.
At the center island stood a ten-year-old girl with dark hair pulled back into a neat, bright yellow ribbon, wearing an apron that read ‘Master Chef’ in bold red letters. She was carefully pouring pancake batter from a ceramic bowl into a hot skillet, splashing a generous amount of milk across the marble countertop with joyful abandon.
A tall man in a crisp white dress shirt and rolled-up sleeves walked into the kitchen, holding a cup of black coffee. He stopped and stared at the mess on the counter with theatrical horror.
“Well, well, well,” Adrian announced, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe, a teasing grin spreading across his face. “If it isn't the health inspector. What do we have here?”
Lily turned around, holding the spatula like a conductor’s baton, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Pancakes, Daddy,” she announced proudly. “And before you say anything about the counter, let me remind you: colors need to breathe.”
Adrian laughed, walking over and wrapping his arms around her waist, lifting her up into the air as she squealed with laughter, clutching the spatula tightly in her hand. He set her gently back down on her feet, pressing a warm kiss to the top of her head.
“How’s it look, restaurant critic?” she asked, holding up a golden-brown, slightly lopsided pancake on a white ceramic plate.
Adrian leaned down, inspecting the burnt edge with exaggerated gravity. He took a small bite, chewed slowly, and closed his eyes.
“Well?” Lily demanded, holding her breath.
Adrian opened his eyes, smiling down at her with a depth of love that words could never capture.
May you like
“Five stars,” he said softly. “Perfection.”
Outside the kitchen window, the old maple tree in the backyard was bursting with vibrant green leaves, swaying gently in the morning breeze. The past was gone, the ghosts had been laid to rest, and for the first time in three long, agonizing years, the world was moving forward—together.
