Chapter 19: Last Dinner At Sydney’s
The aroma hit me before I even reached the bottom of the stairs—a rich, savory blend of herbs and roasted meat that seemed almost surreal in our current circumstances. Sydney walked beside me. The house felt warmer somehow, filled with the kind of domestic comfort that belonged to a different world than the one we now inhabited.
"Jesus," Sydney breathed. "Rachel, this smells incredible."
I followed her gaze to the dining table, where Rachel had somehow transformed whatever was in the fridge into what looked like a proper feast. Golden-brown roasted chicken sat centerpiece, surrounded by perfectly seasoned potatoes, what appeared to be glazed carrots, and even some kind of bread that must have been freshly baked. Steam rose from each dish, and the whole scene was lit by the warm glow of candles Rachel had found somewhere.
"Wow, you made quite a banquet for us, Rachel," Sydney said, genuine amazement coloring her voice.
Rachel stood by the counter, still wearing a flour-dusted apron, her cheeks flushed from the heat of cooking. There was something almost shy about the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, as if she wasn’t quite sure how her efforts would be received.
"My sister can cook even better than professional chefs," Rebecca piped up from where she sat at the table, pride radiating from her small frame. But when she noticed Sydney and me looking at her, a deep blush spread across her face and she quickly looked down at her plate.
I caught the meaningful glance she shot between Sydney and me, and my stomach clenched. Great. The girl thought we were a couple. I shot Sydney a pointed look, but she was already moving toward the sink, either oblivious or choosing to ignore the implications.
"This is incredible, Rachel," Sydney continued, washing her hands with more enthusiasm than strictly necessary. "I mean, given everything that’s happened... how did you even manage this?"
Rachel untied her apron, folding it carefully before setting it aside. "I figured we should use what we could before it spoiled," she said practically, though I caught the slight tremor in her voice. "No point letting good food go to waste when we’re leaving tomorrow."
Right, she wasn’t wrong at all about this.
Sydney had already claimed a seat and was reaching for the serving utensils. "Well, whatever your reasoning, I’m grateful," she said, spearing a piece of chicken before anyone else had even sat down. "Sorry, couldn’t wait—I’m starving."
She took a bite and her eyes immediately widened. "Hmm, ish delishious!" She managed around the mouthful of food, making Rebecca giggle despite her earlier embarrassment.