When I wake up the next morning, with my alarm clock blaring in my ear, I can smell bacon and eggs frying in the kitchen. Confusion clouds my mind for a moment, but then I remember that Stephen stayed over night. I wish he'd stayed in bed to say good morning to me, but at the same time a thrill goes through me as I think of the fact that Stephen is cooking for me. I jump out of bed and grab my robe off the back of the bedroom door. I go into the kitchen and have to suppress a chuckle as Stephen stands at the stove, wearing my pink, ruffled apron, and humming I don't know how to love him from Jesus Christ Superstar. I enter the kitchen, sneak up behind Stephen, and put my arms around his waist. "Good morning." I say as Stephen turns around in my arms.
"Good morning. I hope you're hungry. There's fruit salad in the icebox and breakfast is just about ready." Stephen says as he spoons bacon grease over his eggs. "How do you like your eggs?"
"The way you're doing yours, but I like my yolks hard." I say as I get plates, knives, forks, and napkins and set the table. "Do you want me to make toast?" I ask as I come back to see Stephen.
"Sure," Stephen says as he carries plates of bacon and eggs to the table. I put the toast in the toaster and then begin to clean the fry pan. "Cease and desist." Stephen says as he comes back into the kitchen. He takes the pan from me and begins to wash it himself. "Go have breakfast so that we can be out of the house on time. I've had my shower and I'm dressed so you can have free reign in the bathroom after breakfast."
"You're so sweet." I say as I stand on tiptoe and kiss Stephen on the lips. "That was very considerate, but do you always get up this early? If you don't usually you certainly don't have to on my account. I'll just make some minor adjustments to my morning routine."
Stephen smiles at me and plunges his hands into the hot, soapy water. "I'll start getting up with you then. Now, go have breakfast. I'll be in in a moment to join you."
"I'm just going to butter the toast." I say as I pull the toast out of the toaster and butter it.
By the time I finish buttering and slicing the toast Stephen is done washing the pan. I take his hand and we sit down at the table. I cut into my eggs and none of the yolk spills onto my plate. "Perfect." I say as I lean over and kiss him on his cheek.
"It's not difficult to make eggs. Wait until I make you a crème brulée or my coq au vin or my salade nicoise. I'm glad you like it though." Stephen says as he swipes his toast through his egg yolk.
"I do like it very much. I'm glad you like to cook. My first husband never cooked for me. I should go get ready for work." I say as Stephen pulls out my chair for me.
Hope you're enjoying the story. I apologize for the little bit of French in this one. Drop me a note if you'd like some info on what the dishes are, though I think crème brulée is a fairly standard dessert.
