Heart to Heart (From the Files of Madison Finn, 11) by Dower Laura

Author:Dower, Laura [Dower, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781480422629
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2013-12-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

“GREETINGS!” STEPHANIE SAID as she pulled open the door to her condo. “Come on in.”

A delicious smell wafted past Madison’s nose as she stepped into the apartment. It was sweet like apples and spicy like cinnamon.

Dad leaned over to give Stephanie a quick kiss on the cheek as Madison looked around. She had never been to Stephanie’s apartment before. All of her furniture was sleek, dark wood and leather, and it was very clean and tidy. There were no shoes or magazines lying anywhere.

“Mmmmm,” Madison said, as she followed Stephanie into the kitchen. “What are we having?”

“Moroccan stew,” Stephanie said, taking the lid off of a pot and stirring the contents with a wooden spoon. “I hope you like tangy food.”

“Sounds great,” Madison said warmly. She put her orange backpack on the floor. “Can I help with something?”

“You can chop up some veggies for a salad,” Stephanie said. “They’re in the fridge.”

“I can definitely handle that.” Madison walked over to the enormous steel refrigerator and pulled out some yellow bell peppers, carrots, and cucumbers. Even the inside of Stephanie’s fridge was clean, and all of her leftovers were in tidy Tupperware boxes. “Do you like to cook?” Madison asked. For some reason, the idea surprised her. Maybe because she always saw Stephanie in restaurants, never bustling around a kitchen in a dark green apron, as she was doing now.

“I love it,” Stephanie said as she wrapped some crusty bread in aluminum foil and placed it in the oven to warm. Stephanie had the nicest stove that Madison had ever seen. It was steel too, like the refrigerator, and the gas flames licked the bottom of a large gray pot with steel handles. “Sometimes, if I’ve had a frustrating day at work, I just come home and cook up a storm.”

Dad was a good cook, too. He always said that some people relaxed with exercise, but he preferred to relax with good food.

Madison pulled a knife with a black handle from the wooden block on the countertop and began chopping the bell peppers on a white cutting board. Since her mom was a vegetarian, Madison had plenty of experience cutting up vegetables.

Through the kitchen door, Madison could see her dad lighting candles on the dining room table. Then he walked into the kitchen with a lit candle and placed it on the countertop. “A little ambience,” Dad said, dimming the overhead lights.

“How elegant,” Stephanie said. She opened a cupboard and pulled out two more candlesticks. “Let’s have a few more.”

Dad lit the candles and placed them around the kitchen. They lit the room with a warm yellow glow. Putting down her knife, Madison bent down to her bag and pulled out her new blue tiara.

“As long as we’re being elegant …” Madison said, putting on the tiara.

“Now I wish I had a tuxedo,” Dad said. “Since I’m surrounded by you two gorgeous girls.” He came up behind Stephanie and gave her a hug. Stephanie looked up at him and kissed him on the cheek.

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