Chapter 63: Cooking for Freya
In the dining room, Freya sat at the table swinging her legs under the chair, a slight frown forming on her delicate face. "Daddy, I’m hungry," she said, her small voice edged with impatience.
From the kitchen, Ethan called out, "Five more minutes for the pie, Princess. I’m bringing a starter in just one minute."
True to his word, he lifted the lid of the steamer and carefully scooped the tender green beans into a ceramic bowl. He sprinkled a bit of pink salt over them and gently stirred the steaming beans with a wooden spoon. Then, he added a dusting of freshly grated lemon zest, letting the citrus aroma infuse the dish.
He stepped into the dining room with the bowl in his hands and a theatrical flourish in his voice. "Your Highness, here are your Steamed Green Beans." He bowed as if presenting a royal offering.
Freya giggled at his exaggerated gesture, her eyes lighting up with joy.
Ethan sat down beside her briefly, took a spoon, and served a small portion onto her plate. "They’re still hot, so wait a little before eating."
Just then, the oven beeped from the kitchen.
"Oh! The broccoli’s done. I’ll be right back," he said, hurrying away.
Back in the kitchen, he opened the oven and took out the tray of beautifully roasted broccoli, their edges crisped to perfection. He transferred them into another serving bowl, squeezed a wedge of fresh lemon over the florets, and sprinkled more lemon zest on top to brighten the flavor.
Balancing the bowl of roasted broccoli in one hand and a Shepherd’s pie in the other, he returned to the dining room. He carefully placed the two dishes on the table and disappeared into the kitchen once again to remove his apron and wash his hands. After a quick refresh, he rejoined Freya at the table, settling into his seat beside her.
As soon as he sat down, Freya tugged on his sleeve. "Daddy, I want pie."